A dominant Leeds University was made to pay for a poor start as a somewhat fortunate Leeds Met ran out 3-1 winners at Weetwood.

Leeds University had a disastrous opening five minutes, conceding twice in a little over a minute.  Leeds Met started brightly and earned a short corner that was deemed to have been illegally blocked on the line and a penalty flick was awarded.  Leeds Met took the lead as the penalty was calmly finished into the roof of the net.  Soon Mets lead was doubled as they capitalised on a poor giveaway of possession in midfield that resulted in a good finish from an acute angle.  From this point Leeds University rallied and begun to dominate possession, hitting the post from a short corner and narrowly missing a driven cross into the area.  Leeds Met begun to make unforced errors in defence as Leeds University piled on the pressure and camped in the final third.  This pressure was rewarded half way to half time as a well worked short corner was deflected in from close range by Simon Hanley.  The Leeds University pressure continued to grow after the goal and it took a series of solid saves by the Leeds Met keeper to keep them in the lead at half time.

As the second half begun Leeds University would have hoped to carry on the same as they finished the first.  However the second half begun almost the same as the first as Leeds Met scored within a matter of minutes of the restart.  A quick Met break left two forwards against the University keeper and he was helpless to stop Met extending their lead.  Just like in the first half Leeds University took control of the game straight after conceding and dominated the entire second half.  University were unable to turn their domination of possession into goals as the Met keeper continued to make great saves including a show of great reflexes as he tipped an effort from a short corner over the bar from close range.

The Leeds Met team were well organised and sat back on their lead as University were unable to score in the second half despite their dominance.  Leeds University paid a heavy price for two sloppy starts to both halves and ultimately gave themselves to much work to do against a solid Met side.

Author: Daniel Baines