YORK Schoolboys Under-12s were knocked out of the Michael Dale Cup quarter-finals after a 1-0 defeat at Leeds.

The contest pitted arguably the best two sides left in the competition against each other and they served up an excellent game of high-quality free-flowing football.

Leeds started the stronger, playing with the wind, but the York defence - led by Chris Banks and Connor Ryan - kept Leeds to a few long-range shots which York 'keeper Josh Archer dealt with comfortably.

In the second half, it was York who enjoyed the majority of possession and they played some excellent one-touch football, with Sam Kitson and Oliver Adamson to the fore.

Jordon Outerbridge, Connor Ryan, Oliver Adamson, Jamie Barkway, James Green and Alex Horsman all went close for York.

With the game looking as though it was heading for extra-time, Leeds took the lead against the run of play. York then had a claim for a penalty rejected by the referee.

York coach Paul Horsman said: "It was disappointing to lose after playing as well as we did, but there is a hair's width between the sides."