A rainy Saturday morning in Maltby, South Yorkshire was to be the backdrop for Leeds B team's latest "Friendly Foray". It was Leeds who in their white strip kicked off against Rother Valley in yellow and black.
Leeds kicked off lining up with Dan Resendez in nets, in front of him a back line from left to right comprising of Jacob Pacey, Callum Hamilton, Brandon Kavanagh and Robert Flynn.
After a period of end-to-end play with some lively play in the middle of the park by the midfield of Dan Bambrook, Liam Dyer, Aidan Rodgers and Sam Armstrong the game settled to a more regular pace. Up front strike force of Josh Copley and Oliver Armitage were to get amongst Rother Valley's defence.
After a competitive first period with end to end exchanges Rother Valley were to take the lead with a soft goal conceded by Leeds. A free kick from the half way line was not dealt with appropriately and the ball was allowed to hit the ground and then bounced over Leeds' players heads into the path of an advancing Rother Valley striker who took his chance to make it 1 - 0.
In response, Leeds were set to spring the Rother Valley defence with a counter-attack, ending with Aidan Rodgers winning a penalty after being felled inside the box after breezing through the Rother Valley defence. Liam Dyer stepped forward (as others stepped back) to take the penalty. However, the resultant spot kick was to go just over the cross-bar.
Soon after, however, Dyer was to get that proverbial "monkey off his back", with Leeds' first goal after some neat work from provider Armitage; a square ball to the feet of Liam Dyer who stabbed the ball away with some power to make the score 1 - 1. That was to be the last kick of the half
Substitutes Declan Conlon in nets, Adam Leadsford up front and Alex Barrett in midfield joined the fray.
Armitage was to score his first and Leeds' second to make it 2 - 1 to Leeds, 10 minutes into the second half; his chipped ball all but crossing the line, only requiring a tap in from the advancing pairing of Leadsford and Copley.
Rother Valley were to level with a fine solo run cutting through the left side of Leeds defence. The player should have been tackled as he passed through first the midfield and then defence of Leeds. Soon after off a corner, Rother Valley were to be denied a third following a fine clearing header at the near post from Hamilton.
Leeds were to have the lions share of chances in the second period; Sam Armstrong was to have a shot on goal saved, Bambrook with a rasping shot on goal from outside the box was denied by the cross-bar.
Soon after, Leadsford again was denied by the woodwork, a shot from within the box hit the post and spilled wide.
Despite superior possession and more shots on target Leeds were held to a 2- 2 draw. Coach Mr Tonge reflecting after the game was pleased the boys went out with more belief and determination. Leeds could have had another 3 goals, whereas Rother Valley had two clear-cut chances and buried both of them.