Aldershot Town fell to defeat against Leeds United U21s as their National League Cup journey came to an end.

Kai Corbett gave the National League side a first-half lead but three second-half goals from the young Yorkshiremen saw them secure the win.

James Henry returned to the Aldershot squad after his recent injury, Keane Anderson and Ollie Bray were put straight into the starting line-up following their returns from their loan spells and Jordi van Stappershoef, Luke Jenkins, Corbett, Maxwell Mullins and Emmanuel Maja were given starts.

Tyler Frost skippered the Shots on his 100th appearance. A change of formation saw Frost and Ryan Jones as full-backs in a back four with Anderson and Maja manning a midfield pairing. Corbett and Bray were on the wings and Mullins was up top.

There was early pressure from the Shots who looked to enforce their seniority on their young opponents as Corbett pressed high and caused the Leeds defence problems but a chance was unable to be fashioned as the ball was gathered by Rory Mahady in the visitors’ goal.

Max McFadden had Leeds’ first look at goal in the eighth minute but could only drag his effort wide of the post.

Corbett was continuing to look like the dangerman for the Shots as he found himself out on the left. Bray’s driven cross from the right was dummied cleverly by Henry and fell to Corbett but his touch was almost too good as it trapped behind his run and he couldn’t control it.

Five minutes later the same combination linked up once more but Corbett’s shot was tame and straight at Mahady.

At the half-hour mark, Connor Douglas found himself through on the Shots goal but could only force Van Stappershoef into a smart stop.

But just a minute later, Corbett got his breakthrough with a mix of good fortune and hard graft.

Corbett raced forward on the press and continued his sprint all the way to Mahady. The Leeds keeper fired his clearance straight at Corbett, whose block bounced straight in.

Corbett almost had a second in the 35th minute with a superb effort from the corner of the box that bounced off the inside of the post.

Leeds’ youngsters came out after half-time looking like they had a point to prove with a clear rise in their tempo and desire to attack, and they almost had an equaliser four minutes into the second half.

Attacking down the left, a dangerous cross was fired into the Shots box but Jones was on hand on the line to make a crucial intervention.

Leeds found their equaliser in the 56th minute, though, as captain Rhys Chadwick turned the ball in at the far post.

Six minutes later, Leeds turned the game around as they took the lead via Ollie Pickles.

A superb stop from Van Stappershoef denied the initial shot before a block from Dan Ellison fell to Pickles to volley into the top corner.

Leeds then went 3-1 up in the 71st minute when Chadwick scored his second of the evening.

Van Stappershoef pulled off a fine stop diving down to his left to stop the visitors’ lead increasing any further in the 75th minute.

Corbett fired a late free kick inches wide of the post as Leeds reached the semi-finals of the National League Cup at the Shots’ expense.