HARVEY STEPHENSON starred in midfield, covering ground and dominating exchanges, as York Under-14s Schoolboys won 3-0 at Leeds.

York lost Elliot Oliver to an early knee injury but Luke Jones' penalty gave them an interval lead and he added a second late on, before Liam White sealed victory.

Leeds began the better but York's defence dealt with the threat.

Indeed, Ben Calam forced the first save of the match at the other end, and, as York began to pressurise the home defence, substitute Charlie Fort, White and Ed Hammond all went close.

The breakthrough came on 24 minutes following a free kick into the box by Harvey Stephenson.

The ball was scrambled into the net but the referee had already blown for a penalty, Jones side-footing into the bottom left corner.

Minutes later, Ben Calam chested down a cross on the edge of the box and hit a great dipping volley against the crossbar.

The Leeds keeper also saved a cannon shot from Hammond.

Leeds applied early pressure after half-time but chances were kept to a minimum by great defending, Joseph Hodge saving well when called into action.

With less than ten minutes left, Stephenson broke up play in midfield and drilled a through ball to Jones, who powered it past the onrushing keeper.

Then Stephenson picked up a Leeds clearance and fed White down the inside left. White drove through the defence and put the ball into the bottom right corner.

The game now won, Stephenson and Fort could have added to the score but were denied by fine goalkeeping.

Joint-manager Alan Oliver said: "The lads competed in every area. When they had the chance to play football they did, and when they had to dig deep they showed a lot of character."

LUCKLESS York U13s Schoolboys lost on penalties to fall out of the English Schools FA Cup at the third round to South Lincolnshire.

The game ended 2-2, York having far more of the chances and hitting the woodwork three times, only for the hosts to win 6-5 in the shoot-out.

Both teams tried to impose themselves, with York getting the upper hand midway through the first half, Lewis Humphreys going close from the edge of the area and missing the target from inside the box.

Jackson Cowl and Oliver Kilvington battled away in midfield against a tough home side and some rough-house tactics.

Taylor Bell down the left twisted and turned the defence, putting several crosses into the box, with Eliott Heath and Humphreys both bringing saves from the keeper.

Harry Tinker also made inroads down the right.

When Bell next beat his man, the keeper couldn't hold his cross, the ball dropping to Humphreys. The keeper pushed his effort onto a post, but the striker toe-poked home.

Lincolnshire, though, began to put pressure on and, just before half-time, scored a free-kick to equalise.

The second half was like the first, with the away side creating chances, Ben Thornton hitting a post from inside the box.

Then Elliot Rayner, having his best game for the schoolboys, broke down the right, beat two defenders, cut into the box and beat the keeper only to see the shot hit the bar.

Heath also saw an effort go just wide, with York camped inside their opponents' half.

The breakthrough came with 15 minutes left. Humphreys, from Rayner's pass, hit a first-time shot into the corner of the goal.

Lincolnshire had no option but to attack and, as both sides' tackles became more desperate, the hosts were awarded a free kick, and the direct shot deflected in.

The last five minutes saw York pepper the home goal, Heath hitting a post and Humphreys heading over from five yards.

The shoot-out ended 3-3, Lincolnshire winning in sudden death.

York U11s Schoolboys produced their finest display of term to beat the previously undefeated Sheffield.

Second-half goals from Ronnie Kelly, Liam Mainprize and Jack Whalen turned an unmerited 1-0 interval deficit into a thrilling 3-1 win, leaving coach coach Conor Qualter to hail the boys' determination till the end.

York began on the front foot with midfielders Fraser Clarke, Mainprize, Jamie Hudson and Whalen forcing a succession of corners but Sheffield had an outstanding keeper in the way.

Sheffield counter attacked on 12 minutes and a neat passing move ended with the ball being smashed home from range.

York looked the better side but could not put finishing touches to their football, and the second half continued in a similar vain, with Sheffield playing mainly on the break.

York’s defence of Paul Iggulden, Ryan Evans and Ben Myers provided a secure screen, though, and keeper George Brown displayed a safe pair of hands.

Then a tackle from Adam Clarkson forced the ball into the path of striker Kelly, who rounded the keeper and equalised.

With ten minutes left, York threw everything at Sheffield and, when a free kick was fiercely whipped in, Mainprize's finest of flicks deceived the keeper.

The frantic finish continued with Sheffield now attacking and hitting York’s crossbar.

However, the ball rebounded out and, straight from this, York sent a long pass into the path of Whalen who ran through and sealed a deserved victory.