Birmingham City’s u21 side squeaked a last gasp win over their Leeds United counterparts at Wast Hills today after Eddy Gnahore tucked home trialist Courtney Cameron’s low cross with virtually the last kick of the game.

Blustery conditions at Wast Hills made for a tight, scrappy game and both sides struggled to deal with the gusting swirling wind as it held long balls up in the air. Blues took the lead when Liam Truslove hit home a thirty yard daisy cutter of a free kick low to the keeper’s right on 64 minutes. Leeds must have thought that they’d done enough to secure a point when Lewis Walters equalised from close range with two minutes left but a break down Blues left saw Cameron fizz the ball across the box and Gnahore could hardly miss from a yard or two out.

Blues fielded a young side which  included four trialists – Courtney Cameron from the Villa, Theo Bailey-Jones who has been playing at North West Counties side Irlam Town, Dominic Dell from Wolves and Sam Gainford from Liverpool.

Cameron was the obvious standout player with several good jinking runs down the left and through the middle along with the assist for the winner. Dell took up some good positions but unfortunately wasn’t given the service to show off his shooting prowess whilst Bailey-Jones wasted a glorious opportunity to score for Blues in the second half after breaking free from a Leeds corner to force a one on one with Eric Grimes in the Leeds goal. Gainford only got 55 minutes or so of playing time and was probably the quietest of the quartet.

The most impressive player on show was Eddy Gnahoré, who from the off showed his skill with both feet, holding onto the ball whilst twirling and jinking free from two defenders or more. Gnahoré made several crisp passes in the middle and always looked most likely to be the fulcrum of Blues moves against the lilywhites.

As victories go it did feel a bit of a snatched one; Leeds had a few chances and Blues will have to be thankful to Callum Preston who made several smart saves to deny the Leeds front line.

Team:

Callum Preston, Ryan Higgins (Charlee Adams 61), Courtney Cameron, Ollie Lee, Emmitt Delfouneso, Jack Deaman, Theo Bailey-Jones, Eddy Gnahoré, Dominic Dell, Reece Hales (Liam Truslove 55), Sam Gainford (Amari’i Bell 55)

Subs not used: Connal Trueman, Jean Kalenda

Tags: Amarii Bell, Callum Preston, Charlee Adams, Courtney Cameron, Dominic Dell, Eddy Gnahore, Emmitt Delfouneso, Jack Deaman, Liam Truslove, Ollie Lee, Reece Hales, Ryan Higgins, Sam Gainford, Theo Bailey-Jones