In another evening kick-off United had another fixture on the same day when they visited Tadcaster Albion at the i2i Stadium in Ings Lane, Tadcaster. With Uwe Rosler in charge at York, Rob Kelly and Richard Harris took charge of the team. There was a sprinkling of potential first teamers but for the main part it was the Professional Development Under-Twenty-One team. The starting line up was: Marco Silvestri; Lewie Coyle, Ross Killock, Liam Cooper, Tyler Denton; Kalvin Phillips, Casper Sloth, Souleymane Doukara; Lewis Walters, Mirco Antenucci, Billy Sharp. Mirco Antenucci opened the scoring after just five minutes when he netted with a left-foot shot. Leeds were never in danger of losing but they squandered several easy chances as well as hitting the woodwork on at least three occasions, but they went to the half-time break with just a 1-0 lead. Casper Sloth almost doubled the lead when he hit the crossbar in the fifteenth minute. Lewis Walters went close as he shot over the bat as Leeds took charge of the first half-hour. With ten minutes to the break, Tadcaster had a good chance to equalise but Joe Thornton put a free-kick over the bar from a good position. Billy Sharp should have increased the United lead, but after rounding the keeper he shot over the bar. The Leeds striker did get the ball in the net, moments later, but was denied by the offside flag. Lewis Walters became the third United player to hit the woodwork in the half, when he hit a post. Souleymane Doukara also had a chance to double the Leeds lead, but was denied by the Tadcaster goalkeeper just on half-time and despite dominating the game Leeds went to the break with the slenderest of advantages. Billy Sharp doubled United's lead very early in the second half, after Liam Cooper had beaten Danny Stimpson in the air and headed goalwards for the striker to round the keeper and finish from close range. Soon afterwards the Leeds striker almost doubled his tally but his effort was kicked off the line. Mirco Antenucci twice went close to increasing his goal tally and Billy Sharp should have scored but was denied by a point-blank save by by Gary Stevens in the Tadcaster goal. After Pete Lawrie had replaced Gary Stevens in the Tadcaster goal, he was quickly in the action as he denied Souleymane Doukara. Lewie Coyle was the next to test him but Leeds made it three with a goal from Souleymane Doukara in the final ten minutes as he stroked the ball past the Tadcaster substitute goalkeeper. Marco Silvestri was forced into a save by Calum Ward late in the game, in which he had been a virtual spectator.For United Jake Skelton replaced Ross Killock, Ronaldo Vieira came on for Tyler Denton and Luke Parkin took over from Lewis Walters in the second half, while Eric Grimes, Robbie McDaid, Tom Lyman, Frank Mulhern and Eoghan Stokes remained unused as United won 3-0. Tadcaster Albion lined up: Gary Stevens; Tom Claisse, George Bissett, Andy Milne, Danny Stimpson, Liam Ormsby; George Conway, Jimmy Beadle, Dave Brown, Joe Thornton, Adam Baker. Pete Lawrie replaced Gary Stevens in goal at the hour mark. Calum Ward, Josh Barrett, Danny Gray and Tom Gore were the Tadcaster Albion other substitutes.
Programme & Teamsheet:
MATCH REPORT: Harrogate Advertiser/Sheffield Star: By Ed White: 16-07-2015
Tadcaster Albion 0-3 Leeds United: Antenucci, Sharp and Doukara down Taddy
Tadcaster Albion recorded their highest ever attendance for a pre-season friendly but were downed 3-0 by a strong Leeds United XI on Wednesday evening. Goals from Mirco Antenucci, Billy Sharp and Souleymane Doukara were enough to send Leeds to a comfortable victory at the i2i Stadium. Despite Leeds also taking part in a friendly against York City on the same evening, the Championship outfit brought several first team players to take on their semi-professional counterparts. And with the Leeds fan base split between the two grounds, Taddy were still able to welcome more than 1,000 spectators through the turnstiles for only the second time in their history. Ings Lane was packed to the rafters with an official attendance of 1,011. And the support base witnessed a classy Leeds performance against a Tadcaster team still settling into life under new boss Billy Miller. Leeds’ class told early on when Antenucci received the ball in space and slotted it home with his left foot. Albion struggled to hold onto the ball in the early stages but were kept in the game by an impressive performance by goalkeeper Gary Stevens. Leeds would have doubled their advantage on 20 minutes had it not been for the crossbar, with Sloth crashing a volley onto the woodwork. The crossbar denied Leeds again on thirty-seven minutes when Sharp had rounded Stevens, and the woodwork was struck for a third time four minutes later when Lewis Walters’ shot from twenty yards cannoned back off the post. The second goal eventually arrived within ten minutes of the second period. Liam Cooper powered a header over Taddy centre-back Danny Stimpson and Billy Sharp raced through before rounding Stevens and finishing with aplomb. Sharp and Antenucci continued to fashion chances for the visitors but Stevens remained firm in the Taddy goal, providing a number of top class saves. The goalkeeper made way for Peter Lawrie with 20 minutes left on the clock and the replacement stopped was immediately called into action to deny Doukara’s powerful drive. Doukara reversed fortunes late on, though, as he rolled under Lawrie – who had denied Lewis Coyle minutes earlier with a fingertip stop.
MATCH REPORT: Tadcaster Albion Juniors by Andy Bateman: 16-07-2015
Tadcaster Albion 0 - 3 Leeds United XI
A strong Leeds United side featuring several first team players visited the i2i Stadium to play out a 0-3 away win and a useful pre-season workout. Over 1,000 spectators enjoyed seeing the likes of Antenucci, Silvestri and Sharp take on our very own Brewers. The pre-season friendly was a great workout for Tad who acquitted themselves admirably. The game was matched by the standard of behaviour on the sidelines with fans and juniors lining every side of the pitch. Tadcaster Albion's Social Media updates were well received by fans all over the county and the Club made several new friends as a result. It was great to see so many Juniors enjoying the game and proving once again what a fabulous Club we're building.
MATCH REPORT: Yorkfox by Keith Handley: 16-07-2015
Match Review : Tadcaster Albion v Leeds United XI, Pre Season Friendly, 15/7/15.
Full Time Score : Lost 3-0 Half Time Score : Losing 1-0 Tad Scorers : None Leeds United Scorers :Mirco Antenucci 5, Billy Sharp 51, Souleymane Doukara 86.
Tad Team : Stevens, Claisse, Bissett, Milne, Stimpson, Ormsby, Conway, Beadle, Brown, Thornton, Baker. Subs. Lawrie, Ward, Barrett, Gray, Gore. Attendance : 1,011
Tom Claisse: Enjoyed tonight against a strong Leeds United team, lads did well we kept our shape well and worked hard off the ball.
Josh Barrett: Enjoyed every second of tonight - playing against Leeds United, the team I have followed all my life! , What an experience !
Gary Stevens: Great to face up against Leeds United tonight. Lads did well.
David Brown: Great experience tonight playing against Leeds United. The lads can hold their heads high. Top effort from all Tadcaster Albion players. I'll sleep tonight.
