With the U16s elite development awaiting their cup-semi final opposition it was back to league business on Saturday morning v Leamington DS in Coventry.

On an excellent playing surface at Warwick University, the U16s elite development started slowly with the opposition playing some neat passing football but without a cutting edge. As Leek grew into the game their own style of fast neat passing started to impress on the opposition. After a number of chances at either end, Leek go there first corner of the game and after a deep delivery to the back post Albie Hilton-Jones rose at the back post to head home. This settled Leek down and they took a grip of the game and really pressed the home side back, after some neat work down the right hand side by Callum Brammer his cross was half cleared by the home defence and Joseph Burke pounced on the half clearance to hit a brilliant controlled chip into the far corner from the edge of the box. With the half-time score 2-0 the management team talk was in 2 halves, firstly Leek needed to start quicker in the second and control the game and secondly learn to mange their lead to and end result.

Credit due to the lads the did exactly as the brief was put to them. A fast start in the second half saw some controlled passing football akin to Barcelona with the opposition pinned in their own half, with the chances flowing the home side keeper made some excellent saves to keep Leek at bay.

With 15 mins remaining the home side played on the break and created a couple of chances of their own, but Owen Wyatt was as safe as usual in the Leek goal and made some good stops of his own. The management call was now manage the game to the end without conceding.

For the next ten minutes Leek kept the ball better and fought for every challenge with a good team shape. The final whistle went on a excellent second half performance, although no goals were scored, Leek controlled the game which is all part of developing that winning way.

Next week sees Leek visit Leicester Road in the MJPL Cup semi-final.