Michael Dale Cup Nottingham v Leeds ( 2 - 0 )

Saturday 6th February 2010
 
Leeds u12's were drawn away at Nottingham in the 2009/10 Michael Dale Trophy, 2nd Round, so faced up to the same Nottingham team that had beaten Leeds 2-1 just 7 days earlier at Leeds in the junior star league.
It was a damp and misty morning, but the match exceeded all expectations and was a real cup cracker.
All the Leeds parents agreed that it was the best performance by the Leeds u12's team that we had seen all season, taking the game to Nottingham from the off and playing more like the home team, Leeds were all over Nottingham and played them off the park, with some great tackling and one-touch passing moves creating flowng football like we'd not seen before from this u12's team....Leeds had 80% possession and this was such a one-sided game that it's hard to believe how Leeds lost.
Several goal scoring chances were created by Leeds in the 1st half, but a combination of good saves by the Nottingham goalkeeper and bad luck stopped Leeds taking what would have been a well deserved lead.
On just 5 minutes Leeds swung over a corner and Scott Townend darted to the near post to glance a header across goal but it went just inches wide of the far post.
Leeds were strong in defence with Michael O'Donoughue, Lawrence Wilson, Ross Dickinson and Tom Elliott putting in a solid performance.
Jacob Archer and George Hamnett were like terriers in midfield winning 50-50 challenges against much bigger lads, and this spirit flowed through the whole team as chances fell to Jamie Tonkinson, Grady Marshall, Oscar Bailey, George Hamnett and Scott Townend again before half time, but it was turning out to be one of those frustrating days where the ball just would'nt go in the net....
Tom Elliott left the field injured on about 25 minutes after a crunching tackle and Lee Rowley was introduced into central midfield, with Jacob Archer replacing Tom at left back.... 
It could so easily have been 4-0 to Leeds at half time, but unfortunately, somehow the half ended goalless. HT 0-0.
The second half started the same as the first half ended with Leeds winning all the midfield tussles and playing some great one-touch flowing football....Kristian Smith and Will Mitchell were introduced up front for Leeds, and it was Will Mitchell who came closest to scoring for Leeds on 45 minutes when his near post shot was deflected up and over the keeper off a defender but it came back off the crossbar....so unlucky.
Good strong play down the left wing by Oscar Bailey created more chances, and George Hamnett was played in on 50 minutes but with just the goalkeeper to beat his powerful shot was tipped round the post.
Nottingham were hanging on by a thread....
But no one could have predicted what was to happen next, and it was so unfair on the Leeds lads...  
A harsh offside decision against Leeds on 55 minutes as extra time was looming resulted in a free kick to Nottingham, and a quick break forwards by Nottingham, unfortunately the Leeds defence failed to clear the ball as it was played into the penalty area, and a Nottingham striker swivelled quick to fire low into the net passed Lewis Wray to make it 1-0. 
Leeds responded well, but despite attempts to force a late equaliser, Nottingham scored again on 59 minutes, a soft goal gifted to them by a poor clearance, and another low shot hit the back o the Leeds net....unbelievable, after playing so well it was hard to comprehend how we'd conceded 2 late goals in the last 5 minutes.. Final Score 2-0.
It just goes to show that the best team does'nt always win, it's the team that is clinical in front of goal and puts the ball in the net that wins....that's what makes football so exciting and sometimes unpredictable, and that's why we love to play it and watch it every week...well played Leeds, even the Nottingham parents said we deserved to win !!