Leeds City Boys -v- Derby
27th September 2008
After last week's disappointing defeat away at Wigan, this was a much more assured performance from Leeds. Despite the long grass being a hindrance, Leeds managed to play attractive, flowing and incisive football in all areas of the pitch.
From the beginning the Leeds under 11s took control. Tracking smoothly down the right hand side, Jack Carr sent the ball into the box, and after a neat knockdown from his team mate Grady Marshall, Jordan Emery fired it low and hard into the net to the left of the Derby goalkeeper.
Derby found gaining and maintaining possession difficult. Though the midfield was often congested, Leeds were more effective in moving the ball wide and through the midfield to their strikers. The Leeds defence ensured that Derby opportunities were very limited with Lawrence Wilson marshalling the defence from the centre.
As half time approached, Mitchell Pattinson broke through the Derby defence to strike home and double the Leeds lead.
Half time 2-0
Just seconds in to the second half, Oscar Bailey found himself in space and attempted to loft the ball over the approaching Derby keeper who, to prevent a certain goal, handled outside the box. The resulting free kick from just outside the box was expertly dispatched into the Derby net by dead ball specialist Cody Cromack who rarely misses opportunities from that range.
From then on, it was all Leeds. Oscar Bailey skipped through the Derby defence to poke home his first goal of the match. He doubled his tally shortly after, his low hard shot creeping beneath the Derby keeper's body, before moments later crossing into the box for Ross Dickinson to tap home to make it 6-0.
As the Derby team tired, Mitchell Pattinson seized on a loose ball in the box to secure his second of the day. Oscar Bailey then once again found space on the left of the Derby defence to complete his hat-trick and ensure that the team went home happy.
This was a strong performance from the entire team, and should ensure that confidence in the team is high as the season begins to get going in earnest.
Full-time 8-0