Good performance from youngsters but mistakes give Leeds advantage
Youth Pre-Season
Leeds United 3 Shrewsbury Town 0
Town Squad: Wearing, Burton, Carpenter, Richards (INJ), Holmes, Smith, Westray, Phillips, Easthope, Stephenson, Gwilliams, Evans, Molyneux, Ryan (INJ), Roberts, Jones, Musslewhite.
(Under 16s Niall Flint, Kaimen Anderson, Ross Lavender)
Another appealing pre-season game for us with a trip to Thorpe Arch training ground and the home of Leeds United. An improved performance defensively throughout the game saw limited chances for both sides in the first half, with David Easthope forcing a good save from the Leeds goalkeeper from a well hit long range effort and Leeds hitting the post from a well hit free kick. Both teams had good spells of possession however our ball retention, short passing and decision making must improve to reduce the risk of conceding possession in good or dangerous areas.
The above comment summed up the second half and the reason we conceded three goals from our poor play and not the opposition’s good play. Forty seconds into the 2nd half saw a poor pass from Matty Jones to gift Leeds a 1-0 lead closely followed by another mistake by Lewis Phillips to make it 2-0 and finally ten minutes from the end saw another mistake this time by goalkeeper Callum Burton who hit a clearance at the oncoming striker which bounced straight into the net. Disappointing to see the second half pan out like this because of the positive performances we had and the fact we had three under 16s who did okay and enjoyed the experience.
Work in progress as they say but the boys must have more self confidence and eliminate basic errors as they develop in the game.
Pete Wilding