U21s Report: Leeds United 1-2 West Ham United | OneFootball

Premier League 2

Leeds United U21 1 (Coleman 52’)

West Ham United U21 2 (Swyer 7’, Moore 29’)

Leeds: Mahady (GK), Richards, Ferguson (Lopata-White 83’), Monteiro, Debayo (McFadden 55’), Mullen, McDonald (Douglas 61’), Cresswell (C), Gray (Trialist 61’), Coleman, Chadwick. Subs not used: Ombang (GK).

West Ham: Herrick (GK), Robinson, Mayers, Fearon, Casey (C), Luizão, Moore (Akpata 90’), Orford, Swyer, Adiele (Rigge 80’), Clayton (Golambeckis 60’). Subs not used: Anesu (GK), Dolaghan.

Venue: LNER Community Stadium

Referee: Zac Kennard-Kettle

Booked: McDonald, Ferguson, Lopata-White, Coleman (Leeds) Casey, Robinson (West Ham)

Leeds United Under-21s fell to a narrow defeat in the Premier League 2 at the hands of West Ham United Under-21s, despite a spirited display in adverse weather conditions at the LNER Community Stadium.

A whirlwind opening in York got underway when Harry Gray held the ball up superbly, threading a pass down the line for Rhys Chadwick to race after.

The midfielder latched onto the ball and hooked in an inviting cross which Junior Robinson could only head to the edge of the area, though it just wouldn’t fall for the onrushing Josh McDonald and the visitors survived.

Immediately breaking, the Hammers found themselves through with two players bearing down on goal, but an inch-perfect recovering challenge from the retreating Jeremiah Mullen dispossessed Sean Moore to avert the danger.

Moore would be involved moments later however and this time West Ham made no mistake from close range, as his low cross was bundled home by Kamarai Swyer at the back post.

The London outfit went close to extending their lead in quick succession, when Lewis Orford drilled a powerful effort narrowly wide of the upright after good work once again from the lively Moore.

Keen to level proceedings, Gray collected a loose ball on the halfway line, charging at the visitors’ defence and marauding into the area before drawing a fine save from Finlay Herrick.

From the resulting corner, the West Ham goalkeeper’s services were again called upon, gratefully clutching Diogo Monteiro’s long-distance strike.

The frantic, open nature of the first half continued when Rory Mahady made an impressive save with his feet to deny Hammers’ skipper Kaelan Casey’s header from six yards out.

The Scot’s next involvement was arguably more impressive; a full-stretch dive prevented Swyer’s headed effort from doubling the advantage. Mahady then tipped a looping Moore chance over the crossbar.

There was nothing Mahady could do about the next shot on goal, though, as Moore lashed into the top corner when Chukwuemeka Adiele’s pass had found the winger in space.

After appeals for a penalty were waved away when Gray was sent tumbling to the floor, the Whites almost halved the deficit as Alfie Cresswell rose highest to meet an out-swinging Chadwick corner, though the captain powered a header over the upright.

Minutes before the break, Adiele raced through on goal and would have added a third, if not for a wonderfully timed challenge from Mahady racing out to smother the danger.

It was then Herrick’s turn to be busy, reacting quickly to block Cian Coleman’s deflected strike as Zac Kennard-Kettle’s half-time whistle sounded.

HALF TIME: Leeds United U21 0-2 West Ham United U21

With both sides unchanged as the players emerged for the second period, the game’s electric tempo resumed.

Scott Gardner’s side started brightly and Cresswell almost had a shooting opportunity on the edge of the area, but the midfielder was tackled well before he could strike towards goal.

Down the other end, the Leeds skipper was again involved, this time making a vital challenge to block a fiercely struck Regan Clayton drive. James Debayo then mopped up the danger as Swyer spun and turned past a white shirt.

The hosts’ persistence paid off and they were duly rewarded with a lifeline when Coleman curled a wonderful effort beyond Herrick and into the corner!

Cresswell had picked out the midfielder well, with Coleman placing the ball superbly into the side netting from a narrow angle.

Looking to restore their two-goal advantage, Swyer drilled wide of the post before Moore’s left-footed effort was charged down well by Monteiro. Adiele and Preston Fearon also saw chances inside the area diffused well by United’s defence.

A threaded pass by Fearon then played Adiele through down the left, only for Mahady, in similar fashion to the end of the first half, to race out and smother the danger.

The goalkeeper was again alert with just over 20 minutes of normal time remaining, first making a sprawling save from Moore before tipping Orford’s testing drive over the woodwork; substitute Airidas Golambeckis dragged a shot wide from the resulting set-piece.

Mahady’s next save was the pick of the bunch, scampering across goal to deny Moore from 10 yards out, when the winger’s darting run was found by Fearon.

As the heavens opened in York, Gardner’s side threw everything at the Hammers’ defence in a bid to level proceedings.

Substitute Reuben Lopata-White’s testing delivery fell the way of Chadwick who, on the half-volley, saw a rasping goalbound effort blocked, before the midfielder lashed wide from a narrow angle as United drove forward once more.

Tempers flared as the game entered its dying stages and despite the mounting Leeds pressure, the visitors survived to take all three points back to the capital.

FULL TIME: Leeds United U21 1-2 West Ham United U21