07-08-12: Grimsby Borough (a) 4-1 (HT 1-0) Crowd (?)

The Leeds United development squad travelled to Grimsby Borough for their next pre-season fixture on Tuesday, 31st July 2012. In what was the Wilderness Boys' final pre-season game of the season, United's Development Squad, mostly comprised of the club's promising young players, but with the international experience of Ramon Nunez, made the journey from Yorkshire to the Bradley Community Stadium. In the first-half the home side defended with enthuisiasm, but Leeds played good football and only some good goalkeeping from the Grimsby keeper and wasteful finishing kept the hosts in the game. It was not until just before half-time that Leeds finally took the lead when Lewis Walters scored after running on to a Sanchez Payne through-ball and rounding the keeper before rolling the ball into an empty net. Although the home side fielded an entire new team for the second half Leeds chose not to make their first changes until the sixtieth minute when they made five substitutions. Corey Roper took over from Lewis Coyle, Jake Skelton replaced Monty Gimpel, in defence, Kalvin Philips came on for Charlie Clamp in midfield, and Luke Parkin replaced Ramon Nunez and Luke Booker replaced Eoghan Stokes in the forwards. Grimsby Borough keeper Leigh Cook kept his side in the game with a penalty save low down to his right, but couldn't do anything about the next three goals as Borough became a little ragged. However, Leeds increased their lead with two well-taken goals from Luke Parkin, who capitalized on rebounds from the keeper, before Luke Booker added a fourth when Parkin rounded the keeper before unselfishly squaring for Booker to tap home. Leeds made further changes in the seventieth minute when Dan Atkinson took over from Eric Grimes in goal and Alex Purver replaced Simon Lenighan and Ali Amiri replaced Sanchez Payne in midfield. The home side scored an excellent consolation goal from a corner kick when Gary Deakins nipped in at the near post to finish well with a low shot.