U12's match report - Saturday 26th September 2009

Leeds v Warrington ( 2 - 5 )

Leeds u12's suffered their first defeat of the season to Warrington on a beautiful sunny but breezy morning at St Theresas.
Unfortunately for the second week running Leeds had influential players unavailable, this week Ross Kershaw (ill), Ross Dickinson (hamstring injury), and goalkeeper Lewis Wray (away), also Grady Marshall is recovering from a serious shoulder injury but was included in the squad as a sub.
With the wind advantage in the first half Leeds were out of the blocks very fast, straight from the kick off the ball was played down the right wing to Will Mitchell who beat the full back and sent a good cross towards the edge of the warrington penalty area, the loose ball was picked up by Scott Townend who turned and smashed a powerful shot over the keepers head and into the net. 1-0 to Leeds, 1 minute played !! 3 minutes later Tom Elliott produced a superb run down the left wing, beat a couple of warrington players then passed to Scott Townend who put a first time left footed cross towards the edge of the box to George Hamnett who controlled the ball and smashed another poweful shot over the keepers head and into the net. 2-0 to Leeds, only 4 minutes played !! 
Unfortunately 1 minute later Warringtons first real attack of the game resulted in them scoring...their big No.7 produced a mazy run from the left wing beating a couple of Leeds defenders before sidefooting into the corner of the net passed Ross McKenna in goal. 2-1 after only 5 minutes...
On 15 mins, Leeds defender Michael O'Donoughue made a great tackle but injured himself and had to go off, replaced by Kristian Smith from the subs bench. This meant a re-shuffle for Leeds with Lee Rowley moving into defence and Kristian Smith playing left wing, with Jacob Archer pushing into centre midfield.
But 5 minutes later warrington equalised, again their big No 7 broke clear of the Leeds defence and chipped the Leeds keeper. 2-2. No more goals upto half time, HT 2-2.
At half time Grady Marshall came on for Will Mitchell. 
The second half was always going to be a struggle for Leeds playing against the wind and so it proved, warrington scoring a further 3 goals and winning the game 2-5.
The only real 2nd half chance for Leeds being a good cross from the right wing to the back post but the ball was headed over by Kristian Smith with the keeper beaten.
A bit to work on for the Leeds defence, but with a fully fit squad Leeds should be able to match this strong Warrington team. FT 2-5.