Sunderland - v - Leeds U11's 6th Dec

After a long drive up the A19 the Leeds team were disappointed to find a pitch in such poor condition that there was a risk of drowning in one of the goalmouths. Nonetheless, the game commenced with Scott Graham in goal and a back four of Joe Wheeler, Harry Shelborn, Alex Barrett and Jake Croft.  The midfield of Sam Armstrong, and Daniel Bambrook backed up the forward line of Sheldon Muzvidziwa and Tom Schofield.

Leeds were slow out of the blocks.  Despite Leeds forcing an early corner, which forced a save from their keeper Sunderland got their passing game going and within 5 minutes Leeds were caught cold when a long range effort sailed over Graham outstretched hand to put the home team 1-0 up. Good covering play by Croft and Shelborn kept Sunderland at bay. The early goal woke Leeds from their slumber and by the tenth minute, they were the dominant force. Bennett was getting into his stride and winning the tackles and linking up well with Armstrong who saw his strike from the edge of the area go just wide. Muzvidziwa was benefitting from Leeds' dominance and went close a couple of times before finally getting his reward.  Picking up the ball in midfield, he advanced on the Sunderland goal beating one defender and then slotting the ball past the keeper to restore the balance. This gave the visitors confidence as the half wore on Sunderland were looking anxious and short of ideas. However, good defensive play from Sunderland saw them reach the half way point without conceding any more.

The second half  saw Dan Resendez replace Graham with Robert Flynn and Josh Copley on for Wheeler and for Rodgers.  Immediately Leeds looked a different team to the one that finished the first half.  The cohesiveness was missing and Sunderland recognised that rich pickings were to be had down Leeds' right flank.

Within five minutes, a speculative punt forward found the ball in no mans land between the defender and keeper. Resendez hesitated in coming off his line to clear the ball and although he got there first, he was under pressure from the advancing striker and spilled the ball into the grateful path of the striker who tapped home to make it 2-1. Within minutes, the lead was extended when Sunderland benefitted from a missed shove in the back to a Leeds defender which allowed the ball to split the defence and fall for the defender to slot the ball past Resendez.

Leeds were losing their shape by this point and defensive frailties on the right hand side presented the Sunderland left winger with time to pick out his man in the area, who struck a great strike into the roof of the goal. A comeback was not looking likely as poor communication at the back put Leeds under more pressure. A straightforward pickup was spilled by Resendez gifted one of the Sunderland strikers a real sniffers goal.  The score flattered Sunderland.  Leeds put Wheeler back into the mix to stabilise the defence and further breaches were avoided. 

With ten minutes to go Leeds galvanised themselves into action.  The midfield of Bennett, Bambrook and Copley battled hard and presented Muzvidziwa with a second goal, which he took well to make it 5-2. It was the proverbial game of two halves.