Saturday 19th September 2009  Leeds v Spen Valley ( 2 - 2 )

U12's match report -  
Leeds u12's got back into gear after a week off with an exciting game against local rivals Spen Valley. Unfortunately Leeds had 4 players unavailable for this match - 2 influential outfield players ( Ross Kershaw and Grady Marshall both injured ) and both goalkeepers ( Ross McKenna and Lewis Wray ), so Andy Slinger took over in goals.  
Leeds lined up in a 4-4-2 formation, and started brightly with strong tackling and some great passing moves by midfielders George Hamnett, Lee Rowley, Jacob Archer and Kristian Smith....Spen Valley were finding it hard to get out of their own half as Leeds totally dominated play and after about 15 minutes a great ball forwards from left back Tom Elliott was picked up on the left wing by Jacob Archer who put a great cross into the box and Scott Townend sent a looping header beyond the keeper and into the top corner. 1-0 to Leeds.
About 2 minutes later, more Leeds pressure resulted in a scramble in the Spen Valley box, and with the keeper out of his goals, the ball fell to Scott Townend who's goalbound shot was somehow cleared off the line by a retreating Spen Valley defender....
Minutes later Leeds striker Jamie Tonkinson sprinted forwards and rounded the keeper, but yet again his goalbound shot was kicked off the line by another Spen Valley defender.
Then another good passing move just before half time resulted in left back Tom Elliot hitting a fantastic shot from outside the box which smashed the crossbar..Leeds felt so unlucky, it could have been 4-0 but unfortunately it was only 1-0 at half time.
At the start of the second half, Leeds brought on their only substitute, Will Mitchell, to play right midfield in place of Kristian Smith.
Spen Valley started the second half much better, obviously motivated by a strong half time team talk, and it was now a much more even contest.
A great pass forward from Scott Townend sent Jamie Tonkinson clear for Leeds, but as he checked back onto his right side the Spen Valley defence closed him down and snuffed out the chance.
About 10 minutes into the second half Spen Valley equalised, a lofted right wing cross towards the back post cleared the Leeds defenders and a Spen Valley striker smashed the ball home. 1-1.
5 minutes later Spen Valley scored again, after a throw in, another cross from the right wing was headed in. 1-2.
Tom Elliott had to leave the field due to injury, and Kristian Smith was reintroduced.
But this Leeds team never give up, and after a period of pressure which resulted in 3 or 4 corners, and a powerful free kick by Lee Rowley which the keeper tipped over, Leeds won another corner in the last minute...Scott Townend took it and sent in a great cross to the near post which was powerfully headed home by Kristian Smith. A deserved equaliser. 2-2. From the restart the ref blew for full time and the match finished as a draw, a highly entertaining game, well played both teams.