U21s Report: Leeds United 2-3 Ipswich Town | OneFootball

Premier League 2

Leeds United U21 2 (Gray 9’, Cresswell 54’)

Ipswich Town U21 3 (Taylor 14’, 20’, Barbrook 81’)

Leeds: Mahady (GK), Dudley, Lienou, Cresswell (C), Lopata-White, Enahoro-Marcus (Howson 85’), Douglas, Chadwick, Gray, Pickles, Bird (McDonald 33’) (Brockie 85’). Subs not used: Ombang (GK), Pirie.

Ipswich: Gray (GK), Babb, Boswell (Lewis 66’), Mthunzi, Baggott, Turner (Oudnie-Morgan 77’), Mendel-Idowu, Barbrook, Taylor (C), Carr, Ayinde (Pitts 85’). Subs not used: Barrett (GK), Shabazz-Edwards.

Referee: Matthew Mcquillan

Booked: Chadwick, Cresswell, Lienou (Leeds) Carr, Ayinde (Ipswich)

Venue: Thorp Arch

Leeds United Under-21s fell to a first defeat of the Premier League 2 season as they were beaten by Ipswich Town Under-21s at Thorp Arch.

Scott Gardner had named one change to the side that dismantled Aston Villa away from home last time out, handing a start to Louis Enahoro-Marcus in the heart of defence in place of Jonny Howson.

Thorp Arch was basked in glorious sunshine as action got underway with the Whites dominating possession and making the early inroads as they searched for the advantage.

With nine minutes on the clock, the mounting pressure finally told when Harry Gray raced onto a poorly placed back pass from a red shirt.

The striker took the ball in his stride, rounding namesake Henry Gray in the Tractor Boys’ net and tapping home the opener!

The lead would be short lived, however, as Ipswich captain Tom Taylor was well placed to meet Ryan Carr’s low cross into the area and level proceedings.

The encounter had started at an electric tempo and the visitors then went close to taking the lead themselves. Defender Elkan Baggott struck a powerful volley from a corner kick which sailed narrowly over the bar.

Moments later, a pinpoint long ball from Rory Mahady was brought down superbly by Louie Dudley. Charging into the area, the defender struck a fierce effort that crashed into the side netting.

In an all-action affair, Mahady’s services were then called upon as he made a sublime close-range save to deny Tudor Mendel-Idowu. Despite the Scotland youth international’s impressive intervention, Taylor did grab a second from the resulting set-piece.

Further chances were quick in presenting themselves to both sides, including a glorious opportunity spurned by Carr, before Leon Ayinde tapped in on the goal-line.

The ball had deflected off Reuben Lopata-White and would have rolled into the back of the net regardless but the Town forward, stood in an offside position from the initial delivery, made sure and in doing so saw the assistant’s flag raised to rule it out!

HALF TIME: Leeds United U21 1-2 Ipswich Town U21

With both sides unchanged at the break, play resumed and the visitors were keen to extend their advantage. Carr had raced into space on the right and fired towards goal which was blocked well by Enahoro-Marcus.

The Whites went desperately close to levelling proceedings in a move that began thanks to excellent tenacity from Connor Douglas down the right flank to win back possession.

A clever flick from Gray then found the onrushing Dudley who, despite a clumsy challenge, remained on his feet and looked to pick out the far corner, only for a retreating red shirt to hack away.

Douglas was again integral to an attack moments later and this time there was nothing Ipswich could do to prevent parity being restored!

Fine link-up play between the forward, Ollie Pickles and Alfie Cresswell resulted in the skipper popping up inside the area and drilling a low strike beyond Gray and into the bottom corner.

With the wind in their sails approaching the hour mark, Gardner’s team pressed intently and Jayden Lienou latched onto a loose ball. Driving into opposition territory, a clever pass released Gray who forced the visitors’ stopper into a clever low save from a narrow angle.

As both sides wrestled for possession, a fiercely struck Ashton Boswell free kick rattled Mahady’s crossbar and it was Ipswich who would retake the lead courtesy of Finley Barbrook’s back post header.

In the dying moments, Cresswell went close to salvaging a point for United with a rising effort from the edge of the area that sailed over the upright before referee Matthew Mcquillan brought the feisty encounter to a close.

FULL TIME: Leeds United U21 2-3 Ipswich Town U21