U18s Report: City 1 Arsenal 1

It was good preparation for Wednesday night’s FA Youth Cup clash with Rotherham, as an early second half goal from midfielder Sam Jones gave Leicester a well-deserved 1-0 lead.

However an 89th minute equaliser from Gunners substitute Tarum Dawkins levelled the scores to prevent City claiming an impressive win.

City started the game brightly, and had a penalty appeal waved away by the referee on 20 minutes when right-back McCauley King looked to have been fouled after good link-up play with Simonas Stankevicius.

The Gunners first real chance of the first half came from midfielder Jack Jebb after 36 minutes, but Jebb’s long range snap-shot was comfortably wide of Leicester ‘keeper Liam Sharpe’s goal.

Leicester’s best chance of the half came after 38 minutes, when Ben Chilwell’s accurate left-footed delivery found Stankevicius inside the six-yard box, but his powerful header was just wide of the Arsenal goal.

The second half quickly came to life when Jones gave Leicester a 1-0 lead on 47 minutes, after a lovely three-man Foxes move.

Stankevicius’ pinpoint knock-down created the space for Danny Rowe to shoot and Arsenal ‘keeper Ryan Huddart could only parry Rowe’s powerful shot straight into the path of the waiting Jones, who calmly finished from close range.

Leicester weren’t content with just one goal and continued to pressure the Arsenal defence, and had a fine chance through striker Brandon Fox after 52 minutes.

Fox was played through by Chilwell on the left-hand side and found room for a powerful near post shot, but the Foxes striker was denied by the upright and Gunners ‘keeper Huddart gratefully gathered the rebound.

The visitors gradually played their way into the second half, but the Foxes’ impressive defence stood firm until the 89th minute, when substitute Dawkins snatched a point for Arsenal.

Dawkins broke free down the left-hand side and finished off a powerful run with a clinical left-footed finish that bounced in of the right-hand post, past a helpless Sharpe.

It was a cruel way for Leicester to be denied victory, but The Foxes will take heart from an impressive performance.

Next up for City’s U18s is an FA Youth Cup clash with Rotherham United at Belvior Drive on Wednesday (KO 7pm). Tickets are priced at £3 for Adults and £1 for Concessions in the West Stand (turnstiles 1-6 only).

Leicester: Sharpe, King, Chilwell, Jones (Miles, 64), Pepe-Ngoma, Dineen, Bailey, Samba, Stankevicius, Rowe, Fox

Goal:Jones 47

Arsenal:Huddart, Mugabo, Robinson (Bola, 45), Kamara, Wright, Uade, Maitland-Niles, Jebb, Iwobi, Crowley, Raage (Dawkins, 64)

Goal: Dawkins 89