In a very close affair, Leeds seconds beat the third side by a solitary goal as the match finished 1-0 to the designated home side at Weetwood Park. Although there was only one goal, the match was full of opportunities and, on the whole, it has to be said, was a fairly evenly fought game. From the off, the match was intense: both teams pressed up the pitch in the early stages, aiming to put pressure on the other side hoping that they could force them into early mistakes. The 3rds started off the match with several decent chances, hitting the first shot on target with a header from Di Ken after a lovely floating cross from Callum Stratton.

The seconds also created several impressive attacking moves in the opening stages, with right-back Charlie Howells providing plenty of width and whipped in several dangerous crosses which were begging for a goal to be scored from. After a quarter of an hour, then, there had been plenty of shots, but no huge tests for either goalkeeper. The thirds then had a brilliant chance to open the scoring as lovely build-up play saw Andreas Tofarides put in a brilliant cross but the header was just too much from Statton and the ball went over the bar. Thus far, although there had been plenty of shots, the blocking, tackling and intercepting from both sides had stifled the attacking moves, meaning the attackers were feeding off scraps and not really having clear-cut chances to score.

Just after half an hour into the match a powerful shot from Tofarides looked to be heading into the top corner but for a brilliant save from Liam Cline. From the resulting corner he had another good chance to open the scoring but Cline produced a spectacular reflex save to make sure the match remained level. The thirds then had a third glorious chance to score from yet another corner but some scrambling in the defence meant that the seconds finally were able to clear the ball away from the danger zone. When the thirds did manage to score, it was disallowed and so the score remained 0-0 going into half-time. So far, this had been a fairly even match. Both sides defended well, and were perhaps just lacking that spark of creativity to produce better chances. Indeed, the chances so far – although there were plenty – had manly been either long-shots or from set-pieces.

The second half was certainly all to play for. During the opening stages of the second half, just like Frank Lampard six years ago, the thirds smashed a shot onto the bar which bounced down, thinking it had crossed the line. The referee waved away the appeals and didn’t give a goal, despite the substantial protests. Whether the ball crossed the line, only goal-line technology will know for certain. One thing that was for certain was that it just did not seem to be the thirds day. The first, and only, goal of the match was soon after scored by Kewten Kowles, hitting the ball over the goalkeeper and into the top corner and giving the second team a 1-0 lead.

There was only half an hour left, could the third team salvage the point they thoroughly deserved? With twenty minutes remaining the thirds went on the attack, the Elliot Eaton came out for the ball, but the speedy attacker got there before him and guided the ball goal-wards. It seemed to all the world to be going in. However, as was the luck of the thirds, some brilliant defending from the second team meant they managed to clear the ball just before it crossed the line. In the last ten minutes, the thirds tried everything to salvage the point they were desperate for: long-throws, long-shots, headers, anything. The game would however finish 1-0 to the seconds. Both sides should be pleased enough with their respective performances.Both goalkeepers, Liam Cline and Elliot Eaton made outstanding saves which kept their respective teams in the match. A match that was combative, intense and entertaining, everything you want from a University fixture.

James Felton

Photo Credit: Target