Spen Valley 3 Leeds 0 ( Junior Star League )
u12's match report - Sat 21st Nov 2009
If ever there was a game of 2 halves it was this one...Leeds u12's were hoping for a 4th straight win, but it wasn't to be, and they ended up losing this Junior Star League game 3-0 away to Spen Valley at a foggy and wet St John Fisher High School, in Dewsbury.
The Spen Valley lads seemed really up for this one from the off, to beat their local rivals Leeds, whereas some of the Leeds lads seemed unusually "out of sorts" in a scrappy first half, Leeds failing to get their effective passing and crossing game going and therefore not creating many chances in front of goal, whilst conceding possession far too easily with mis hit passes, and Spen Valley were quicker and stronger into the challenge, playing a more direct style of football which eventually got them the win.
After 20 minutes, a mistake clearing the ball from the Leeds defence ended up gifting Spen Valley an unnecessary corner which they didn't deserve, but they took full advantage of it, a good cross from the corner was headed in at the backpost, unchallenged... 1-0 to Spen Valley, a very soft goal to concede.
Then on 30 minutes, a dubious and again unnecessary free kick was awarded to the right side of the Leeds pen area, and a Spen Valley player hit a great left footed shot high into the top corner of the Leeds goal. Another goal needlessly given away. HT 2-0.
Leeds introduced 5 subs at half time, and after a "wake up" call from the manager, and a team reshuffle, we started the second half much better and finally got our passing and crossing game going, pinning Spen Valley back and taking the game to them, forcing them to defend their lead. Leeds were now well on top and by far the best team, good tackling, passing and crossing play by Tom Elliott and Oscar Bailey down the left wing and Andy Slinger down the right wing created chance after chance for Leeds but we somehow failed to score, shots from Will Mitchell, George Hamnett and Oscar Bailey going just high or wide of the goal, or straight at their keeper....on another day with more luck we'd have easily scored 3 goals in the second half....but it wasn't to be, and in the last minute of the game, Spen Valley finally broke out of defence and were again awarded another dubious and unnecessary free kick to the left side of the Leeds pen area and a Spen Valley player hit a great right footed shot into the far top corner of the Leeds goal....unbelievable and so unjust after so much second half pressure by Leeds, but that's football sometimes !! ...A Spen Valley parent said after the match he could'nt believe they'd won after being totally outplayed in the second half.