Dyson strike seals share of spoils
- Olly Dyson goal rescues point at Leeds United- Substitute nets goal in 90th minute in 1-1 draw
- Highlights on HTTV later this week!
A 90th minute goal from substitute Olly Dyson secured Town a share of the spoils in a Professional Development League West Yorkshire derby at Leeds United’s Thorp Arch training ground on Monday afternoon.
The 17 year-old (pictured above), who is still in the first year of his Academy scholarship, emerged from the bench to bundle the ball home and secure a point for his team in a competitive match.
Senior Professional Development Coach Frankie Bunn’s line-up featured two trialists, with striker Frank Mulhern’s third Town appearance coming against his former club and 19 year-old midfielder Ryan Hill starting in midfield.
The game also featured a first start for winger Deshane Dalling since his permanent signing from non-league Staines Town.
Leeds’ side was similarly young, although the likes of Tyler Denton, Paul McKay, Billy Whitehouse and Mallik Wilks have made fleeting senior appearances for the Whites this season.
The hosts applied most of the early pressure, but Town went closest to opening the scoring in the first 25 minutes though the trialists. First Mulhern was unlucky to hit the post after lobbing goalkeeper Bailey Peacock-Farrell and then midfielder Hill tested the custodian with a 22nd minute shot from the edge of the box.
It was, however, the home side that took the lead in the 29th minute of the game; Irishman Eoghan Stokes firing past Town goalkeeper Ryan Schofield via a deflection following a swift counter-attack.
Town responded, with midfielder Lewis O’Brien forcing Peacock-Farrell into a decent save seven minutes later.
Schofield was back in action at the other end just before the interval, parrying an initial effort from Tom Pearce before goal-scorer Stokes fired wide on the rebound.
Town’s first effort of the second-half came in the opening moments when attacking midfielder Jack Boyle forced the goalkeeper into an excellent save. Leeds responded quickly, with Jack Clarke firing over and Schofield denying Pearce in superb fashion after he’d been played in on goal by Stokes.
Dalling put a chance over from a cross with 25 minutes left before centre back Danny Kane forced Peacock-Farrell into another good save by connecting with captain Regan Booty’s corner just five minutes later.
Boyle was at it again a few seconds later, with the Leeds goalkeeper stopping his effort from 20 yards out in impressive fashion.
Leeds had a good spell thereafter, with Pearce firing inches wide before Schofield made a decent save from substitute Sami Amissah as time ticked away.
Town had the better of the final few minutes as the players pushed for an equaliser, but it looked like the big chance came and went in the 88th minute as Mulhern headed over from close range.
However, substitute Dyson netted his third in the last two Under-23 games by bundling the ball home in the final minute of normal time.
Town still had a chance to win the game in the added minutes, but O’Brien couldn’t direct Booty’s free-kick past the goalkeeper when completely unmarked in the game’s last meaningful action.
Highlights of the game will follow on HTTV this week.
Town’s team vs Leeds United (4-2-3-1):
Ryan Schofield; Dylan Cogill, Rarmani Edmonds-Green, Danny Kane, Jamie Spencer (Isaac Marriott, 80'); Regan Booty (c), Ryan Hill (Olly Dyson, 63’); Jack Boyle, Lewis O’Brien, Deshane Dalling (Cedwyn Scott, 69’); Frank Mulhern
Unused subs:
Owen Brooke, Sam Warde
Town bookings:
Danny Kane (17’), Jack Boyle (80’)
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