South Tyneside Schools FA V Leeds Schools FA 12th September
A glorious sunny morning at Temple Park School, South Tyneside was the setting for Leeds second game of the season. From the whistle, it was the home team who looked the greater threat with much of the possession including a succession of corner kicks. The Leeds back four of Robert Flynn, Callum Hamilton, Liam Dyer and Joe Wheeler together with first half keeper Declan Conlon defended well until a corner on 15 minutes broke the stalemate. A deflected shot from one of those corner kicks splayed into the Leeds goal just wide of the diving keeper after threading through the crowded goal area.
In response, good link up play in midfield by Dan Bambrook, Jack McGahan, Charlie Simpson and Sam Vasey provided the opportunities for penetrating runs from both Oliver Armitage and McKenzie Haigh but to little avail. A spell of end-to-end action ensued with Leeds trying to cancel out the South Tyneside advantage. However it was South Tyneside who on 20 minutes doubled their advantage when a shot from just outside of the box was hit low and to the keepers left side.
Leeds persisted with their penetrating attacks and it was on 25 minutes that the margin was reduced. A long throw-in down the wing from Robert Flynn found Oliver Armitage who ran towards the bye line and with a penetrating ball across goal found the feet of McKenzie Haigh who lobbed the ball over the South Tyneside keeper to complete a well crafted move.
Half-time saw the planned double substitution for Leeds; Scott Graham brought on to keep goal and Jonathan Nyantou at the other end of the field. Battle commenced with a couple of early Leeds efforts on goal snuffed out. Just as the game entered the last quarter, Sam Vasey was fouled 10 yards outside of the South Tyneside box. Vasey took the free kick and lofting the ball over the makeshift wall and others in the box, scored a delightful effort to make it 2 - 2.
South Tyneside despite using all of their 4 subs to full effect, looked to be tiring. Leeds meanwhile grew in confidence and looked lively. Both teams had efforts on goal but it was Leeds who took the lead on 40 minutes; Sam Vasey again foiled the keeper with a carbon copy of his earlier kick, giving Leeds a 3 - 2 lead.
Some confident handling by 2nd half keeper, Scott Graham and solid defending by Leeds back line thwarted any threat from South Tyneside. Leeds extended their lead further on 45 minutes when Oliver Armitage found himself one on one with the keeper, skipping past defenders and chipping the keeper to make it 4 - 2.
Jonathan Nyantou had further efforts thwarted by a bolstered South Tyneside defence and by the offside rule. However, on 50 minutes Nyantou's persistence was rewarded; Callum Hamilton was provider with a penetrating cross from just inside the Leeds half and Nyantou finished with a sublime chip to make it 5 - 2. Leeds nearly stretched the lead further with a speculative effort on goal from Jack McGahan that was to go marginally over the cross bar.
As the game drew to an close, Leeds were dispossessed and against the run of play a move concluding in a looping shot by South Tyneside narrowed the margin to 5 - 3. However, the game was all but over and the final whistle followed the restart to give Leeds their second successive win.