National League Cup Report: Gateshead 1-2 Leeds United U21 ...

National League Cup Group C

Gateshead 1 (Adom 40’)

Leeds United U21 2 (Chadwick 3’, Douglas 49’)

Gateshead: Moss (GK), Belehouan, Radcliffe (Tinkler 72’), Jones, Adom, Constantin (Newton 66’), Home, Worman (C) (Whelan 73’), Carr, Malcolm (Butterfield 72’), Beck (Oseni 66’). Subs not used: Basey (GK), Booty.

Leeds: Mahady (GK), Dudley, Ferguson, McFadden (Toulson 14’), Lopata-White (C), Debayo, Cresswell (C), Chambers, Chadwick, Snowdon (McDonald 46’), Douglas (Vincent 77’). Subs not used: Grainger (GK), Mullen, Bird, Lane.

Venue: Gateshead International Stadium

Referee: Gareth Rhodes

Booked: Belehouan, Carr, Home (Gateshead)

Leeds United Under-21s grabbed their second victory in as many National League Cup matches, overcoming Gateshead away from home to maintain their 100 per cent record in the competition.

Rhys Chadwick’s early goal had put Scott Gardner’s side into the lead only for the hosts to equalise before the break, but Connor Douglas’ superb second half finish won it for the Whites in what was a feisty affair at the Gateshead International Stadium.

Before the action got underway, the players, led out by the captains who laid poppy wreaths, came together for a moment of silence, ahead of the upcoming Remembrance Sunday.

United got off to the perfect start on Tyneside when the run of adventurous full-back Connor Ferguson was found on the left flank.

The defender raced into the area, cutting back a fine delivery across the face of goal which left the onrushing Chadwick with the simplest of tasks to bundle home from close range.

Keen to build on a superb start in the opening minutes, Max McFadden, deployed in a deeper midfield role than usual, won possession back excellently and found Sam Chambers who, after marauding to the edge of the hosts’ penalty area, saw a fiercely struck effort charged down well by a Gateshead defender.

Rory Mahady’s services were called upon for Scott Gardner’s youthful side approaching the quarter of an hour mark, when an arrowed Dan Jones long throw was met on the volley by Ryan Carr, stinging the palms of the Scottish keeper with a powerful strike.

Joe Snowdon, on his return to the team, almost doubled Leeds’ advantage after capitalising on a loose pass out from the back by Gateshead stopper Harry Moss, though the goalkeeper would atone for the error with a superb sprawling save to deny the winger at full stretch.

A fast paced, open affair in the North East saw well-travelled striker Mark Beck go close, heading beyond Mahady’s far post as he met a cross from the left.

Against a physical and experienced National League outfit, the Whites defended resolutely but the hosts levelled proceedings when Kain Adom rifled home from outside the area before the break.

HALF TIME: Gateshead 1-1 Leeds United U21

The start of the second half saw winger Josh McDonald replace Snowdon down the left, and it was from that flank that United almost restored their lead, with the retreating Jones making a crucial intervention to prevent Chadwick meeting a Ferguson cross and grabbing a second in similar fashion to the first.

Gardner’s side weren’t to be denied for too long however, with the recently introduced McDonald playing a key part in a wonderful flowing move.

Chambers did superbly to retain possession and work it out to the forward on the touchline. Driving in-field, the Scottish youngster threaded an inch-perfect pass through for Douglas who took a touch to compose himself on the edge of the area before lashing beyond Moss and into the corner!

If not for Moss it would have been three moments later, as he made a fine diving save to parry Louie Dudley’s low shot from outside the box.

On the hour mark, Jovan Malcolm went within inches of grabbing another equaliser, leaving the woodwork shaking as he saw a rasping free-kick cannon off the post and away from danger.

As the hosts began to enjoy longer spells of possession, Mahady made a superb point-blank save to smother from Adom, after the wing-back had darted into the area from the left.

On the counter, the Whites were a threat however and Douglas went close to doubling his tally for the evening after being found on the right, chopping onto his right and fizzing an effort over the bar.

Ferguson, impressive with his tireless runs down the left all evening, was played through and drilled narrowly past a troubled Moss’ far post from a tight angle heading into the final 15 minutes.

Chadwick was next to almost grab a third after being found in space by Douglas though, under pressure from a black and white shirt, the attacking midfielder was unable direct his strike on target.

Chambers, who had led the line well for the Whites throughout, then drove deep into Gateshead’s territory, using the overlapping Alfie Cresswell who crossed into the path of substitute Harvey Vincent, but the winger headed wide.

Vincent again went close, drawing another fine save from Moss after latching onto Chadwick’s pass down the right and firing back across goal, before Gareth Rhodes brought an entertaining match to a close, leaving Leeds with two wins from two in the competition!

FULL TIME: Gateshead 1-2 Leeds United U21