Slow start leads to Leeds defeat for Under-21s

Our Under-21s paid the price for conceding early as Leeds United escaped with a 3-0 victory in the Premier League 2 at Hotspur Way on Saturday lunchtime.

We gifted the visitors the lead inside two minutes when goalkeeper Aaron Maguire was caught out while trying to play out from the back with Luca Thomas on hand on tap home and from there we never recovered, Thomas adding a second on the counter-attack in first-half stoppage time before Jeremiah Chilokoah-Mullen headed home a late third from a corner.

You sensed we might have got something out of the game had we not made such a disappointing start, Jaden Williams in particular having a couple of good chances before the half-hour mark, but the recent habit of conceding first – something we’ve done in all but one game at this level so far this term – proved costly.

Less than two minutes were on the clock when Maguire – making his first appearance of the season – saw his short pass intercepted in our box and although he made a good initial save from Harvey Vincent, Thomas was on hand to routinely slot home the rebound. We swiftly set about trying to get at the visitors at the other end and while we produced some nice play in the build-up at times, we lacked a cutting edge to haul ourselves back level.

Cian Coleman fired over the bar in a brief retort from Leeds before our pressure almost told on two occasions, first with Williams seeing his shot from inside the box tipped over the bar before the same player fired over at the near post following a good low delivery from Max McKnight.

There was controversy in the run-up to half-time as Maguire scrambled down to save a miscued ball from McKnight, only for the referee to award Leeds an indirect free-kick for a deemed backpass. Max McFadden was teed up to strike it from six yards out but with all 11 of our players on the goal-line, it was Tyrese Hall who ultimately made the block with his head. Unfortunately, though, Leeds did manage to double their lead two minutes into stoppage time when Alfie Cresswell broke forward down the right wing and his low centre was planted home by the arriving Thomas in the middle.

Thomas could have had his hat-trick at the start of the second period but drilled wide from inside the box, although his opposite number Williams seemed determined to haul us back into the game, embarking on an incredible slaloming run from wide on the right before striking the near post, then storming through on goal, only to go down under retreating defender Joe Richards’ challenge in the box, but the referee waved play on.

You felt at that point that the next goal would be key but unfortunately for us it went to Leeds as Chilokoah-Mullen glanced home a header from a corner with 15 minutes to go, putting the game out of reach. Hall and substitute Rio Kyerematen saw shots tipped wide by goalkeeper Harry Christy in the closing moments, but it just wasn’t to be for us.

Match data

Goals: Leeds United – Thomas 2, 45+2, Chilokoah-Mullen 75.

Yellow cards: Spurs – Dorrington 45+5, Robson 80; Leeds United – Thomas 15.

Referee: Paul Marsden.

Venue: Hotspur Way, Enfield.

Weather: Sunny, light breeze, 13 degrees.