Birmingham Schools FA 'A' v Leeds Schools FA U11 'A' 31st October 2009
A sunny morning in Sutton Coldfield was the venue for day two of Leeds' Tour of the Midlands. Leeds kicked off in their all white kit against an "amalgam" of Birmingham's eight affiliated Schools FA's. With the momentum from the previous day's 6 - 1 win at Bilston, hopes of another Leeds win were high and early pressure looked like a real contest would follow.
In nets, Declan Conlon and in front of him a defensive back line of Callum Hamilton, Sam Vasey, McKenzie Haigh and Sam Bellerby were pressured early by a lively and skilful Birmingham team.
The midfield of Scott Smith, Tyler Thompson, Joe Wheeler and Aidan Rodgers all linked well but found it difficult to push on as Birmingham fought for the ball well. Birmingham's back line and keeper dealing effectively with a few threaded crosses to Leeds' strike force of Jonny Nyantou and Ollie Armitage.
Birmingham closed down very quickly and by the close of the first 10 minutes, they were playing the better flowing football. That was rewarded on 12 minutes with an excellent strike on goal by Birmingham. The next two chances for Leeds fell first to Sam Vasey with a free kick on 15 minutes that the Birmingham keeper parried. The next chance came from a penetrating free kick from Sam Bellerby whose shot hit the head of one of Birmingham's defenders and was safely gathered by their keeper. Minute's later Leeds were to concede a second after a deflected shot was picked up by Birmingham player who converted the ball with a good finishing touch. Leeds pressured, but on a counter attack by Birmingham, Declan Conlon denied them a third as he came off his line to safely clear an approaching ball. Ollie Armitage received a knock soon after and was sidelined for treatment as sub Adam Leadsford replaced him on the field of play.
Just as the half-time whistle approached, Birmingham got their third goal, as a loose ball spilled past the Leeds back line and keeper. Leeds had their chances but unlike Birmingham were not quick to take them.
Leeds had a mountain to climb in the second half which saw planned substitutions of Callum Elson and Tom Godden on for Vasey and Hamilton. Early on in the second half, Leeds came out the more positive with some useful attacks in the first 10 minutes after the break, but Birmingham's two centre backs proved too difficult to evade. On the counter attack Birmingham were the more threatening and it was they who extended their lead to 4 - 0 ten minutes into the second half.
Joe Wheeler, Scott Simpson and Jonny Nyantou gave way for subs Vasey, Hamilton and Armitage. It was Birmingham who were to get the fifth, from a penalty kick won from an accidental handball in the Leeds area. The penalty that followed was nigh on impossible for keeper Conlon to save, as it was fired high and to the right. The sixth came soon after, as Leeds lost possession again, when a passing ball was latched onto by Birmingham's offence.
Scott Simpson came back on in place of Tyler Thompson who was quite possibly Leeds's man of the match. The seventh was to follow five minutes later as Birmingham's number 10 turned his marker and fired the ball in the back of the net. A late Leeds attack down the right flank saw nice link up play between Vasey, Hamilton and Smith, but that too was snuffed out by Birmingham's back line. A series of set plays from a succession of free kicks and corners for Leeds were also to come to nothing as Birmingham defended deep in their own half.
The final whistle was to sound (not a minute too soon!) to bring to and end a disappointing and at times frustrating performance. Mr Rossiter, reflecting after the game, said it was the manner in which the goals were conceded that was particularly disappointing. The game was lost in the first half and despite at least a dozen attempts on goal, Leeds were just not able to convert any. With the home team the more hungry, Leeds were left to reflect on a lacklustre performance that saw them come second best to a very good Birmingham Schools FA side. Maybe the previous days packed programme and success on the field coupled with a late finish meant Leeds were not firing on all cylinders. Whatever the reason, am certain the players (and coaches) will be keen to put things right on their trip to Liverpool on Tuesday evening and get back to winning ways.