Leeds v Barnsley Saturday 11th October

Leeds 'A' 3   v   2 Barnsley'A'

On a calmish day at Stadium St. Theresa's the emerging City team took on the 'bogey-team' of last years Under 11's-Barnsley. The grass was shorter than the previous fortnight when comparisons with football played by pygmies in the jungle grass would have been appropriate!

Leeds opened up fairly brightly with Lee Rowley and Matthew Wheeler prominent in the early exchanges but there wasn't sufficient threat to trouble a slightly hesitant Barnsley keeper. Adam Drake in an unfamiliar left back position used his distribution skills to send Ross Kershaw haring down the left wing and Ross put in two or three 'knock me in the net crosses' but there were no takers.

The Barnsley team although doughty in defence were not much of a threat except for the strong running centre forward who repeatedly troubled the Leeds Centre Backs. Although Daniel Sefton and Ryan Bedford stuck to their task and kept forcing him wide it was only a matter of time before he would break from their shackles and as predicted he shrugged off two attempted challenges to fire across Nick Myers in goal and into the far corner. The goal shocked Leeds out of their complacency and a few minutes later Ryan Bedford strode forward to meet a ball partially cleared by Barnsley and from 25 yards crashed the ball home via the underside of the crossbar. Leeds were now on top and from a cross from the right Grady Marshall chested the ball home to put Leeds in front. Barnsley retaliated and after a failure to clear the ball a free kick was conceded 20 yards out. The resultant effort found its way into the roof of the Leeds net giving Nick Myers no chance. The second half saw Leeds control the game but they could never relax against a hard working Barnsley team . Jack Waters on the left was terrorising the defence and from one of his many crosses Mitch Pattinson touched home. The spectators thought this would be the prelude to a goal fest but it wasn't to be and back came Barnsley to cause panic in the Leeds defence as a shot hit the bar and dropped into the six yard box for the forward to slam the ball home…. But no-out of nowhere Nick Myers plucked the ball out of the air…fantastic!

Leeds had one or two more excellent opportunities to finish the game off but failed to do so against a valiant Barnsley who battled to the end. Not a great performance and in all honesty one which was below expectation however it is still early days and a win is a win…...isn't it ???