LEEDS UNITED 2 TOWN RESERVES 3
Leeds: Bradley Johnson (25), Luciano Becchio (39 pen)
Town: Malvin Kamara (14), Phil Jevons (35 pen, 68)
Town got their Central League campaign off to a winning start at Elland Road this evening with an excellent 3-2 win over Leeds United.
Both teams were packed with experienced pros that have regularly featured for their respective first teams and it made for a very entertaining game, with Town eventually holding onto a one goal lead at the third attempt. Malvin Kamara opened the scoring for Mick Docherty's side with a rare headed goal before the first equaliser, but a penalty and a tap-in from Phil Jevons (pictured) proved enough to give the Terriers all three points.
Recent signing Tom Denton remained an unused substitute throughout the game, but trialists Paul Gerrard and James Smith played all ninety minutes; Gerrard was a vocal goalkeeper throughout and made several saves, whereas full-back Smith looked tidy in possession and a willing runner off the ball.
Showcasing their change strip of all gold, Mick Docherty's side started the game in a regulation 4-4-2 formation. Trialist goalkeeper Paul Gerrard was protected by a back four of (from left to right) Skarz, Unsworth, Nathan Clarke and fellow trialist James Smith at right-back. Kamara and Parker took the right and left wings, with younger Clarke brother Tom partnering Collins in the middle of the park. Up front, Luke Beckett partnered Phil Jevons.
A healthy crowd watched on at Elland Road as Leeds had the better of possession in the early stages and the home side created the first chance of the game inside five minutes. A deep Town corner was cleared down the Leeds right and striker Luciano Becchio was put through on goal by a clever slide-rule pass; Becchio went into the area with Nathan Clarke trying hard to recover and from a decent position hit his effort to close to Paul Gerrard, who pushed the ball away to safety with two hands.
Town fought back hard and from another right-sided corner in the 8th minute, a far post ball delivered by Parker was nodded over by Tom Clarke.
Leeds striker Tom Elliott blasted well over the bar from range a minute later before 'keeper Gerrard dropped a Leeds cross on the stroke of ten minutes; thankfully, Elliott's resultant header towards an unguarded goal only hit the bar before the Town defence cleared the rebound.
After the frantic opening ten minutes, the game settled down and Town started to apply some attacking pressure - soon scoring the opener.
GOAL - Town took the lead on the stroke of the 14th minute through winger Malvin Kamara. The Terriers were awarded a free-kick on halfway when Dave Unsworth was fouled and from the resulting Skarz set-piece, a defensive header landed right on the Sierra Leone international's head on the edge of the box and he succeeded in looping his effort over the Leeds custodian and into the net.
The goal left the home side shell-shocked and Phil Jevons was the next player to try his luck with a long-ranger in the 18th minute, but his effort was weak and drifted well wide of the 'keeper's right-hand post.
Leeds' experienced midfielder lost his marker to try his own edge of the box shot a minute later, but his effort was easily saved by Gerrard down to his left side and from his long clearance Alan Martin did well to smother the ball at the feet of the advancing Luke Beckett. Tom Clarke nodded the resulting Parker corner from the left wide of the far post when well positioned.
Midfielder Neil Kilkenny went close with a swerving 25-yard drive in the 21st minute - the ball going just over Gerrard's crossbar - before Leeds did equalise.
GOAL - Leeds levelled the scores in the 25th minute, with former Northampton midfielder Bradley Johnson getting the decisive touch. The home side worked the ball across midfield well and it was Jonathan Douglas' excellent cross from the right that gave Johnson the simple task of nodding home at the near post from around six yards out.
Docherty's side responded well to conceding and created a good scoring chance through a brilliant passing move in the 28th minute. Skarz found left-winger Parker with a brilliant ball down the line and his great deep cross found Jevons in space, but he placed his volley straight at the goalkeeper.
Leeds then responded in kind and good link-up between strikers Elliott and Becchio a minute later gave the latter the chance to shoot from 15 yards, with his curling effort drifting wide of Gerrard's right-hand post.
Paul Gerrard was the busier of the two goalkeepers and he had to be alert in the 31st minute to palm over another decent long-shot from the impressive Kilkenny.
It felt like a Clarke was getting to every Town corner first and Nathan looked disappointed to send his 34th minute effort from another Parker delivery over the bar.
A minute later the game had gone down the other end and Gerrard did well to push away a Becchio shot from 20 yards.
GOAL - Town took the lead for the second time in the game in the 35th minute courtesy of a Phil Jevons penalty. A careless Leeds pass from defensive was seized upon by Smith and his clever pass split the home defence; striker Jevons ran clear and drew the 'keeper before nudging the ball to one side - only for the shot-stopper to bring him down. 'Jevo' stepped up, dusted himself down and sent the goalkeeper the wrong way with his cool effort from twelve yards to restore Town's lead.
GOAL - Leeds then earned their own penalty four minutes later, leading to a Luciano Becchio equaliser. Jonathan Douglas picked up a loose ball from a Leeds throw and advanced into the area, only for Tom Clarke to bring him down with a challenge from behind. Up stepped the Argentinean striker to blast the ball home to Paul Gerrard's left side.
Tom tried to restore Town's advantage in the 41st minute, seizing on a clever Jevons knock-down before volleying towards goal from 25 yards. Unfortunately, his effort was always rising into the vacant stand behind the goal.
The same could be said of Tom Elliott's speculative effort for Leeds a minute later.
Referee Brown then brought an end to one of the most entertaining halves of football you could ever wish to see with the scores level!
HALF-TIME: LEEDS UNITED 2 TOWN RESERVES 2
Neither side made changes during the interval and the match recommenced at the same frenetic pace. Leeds striker Becchio had the first shot of the half within three minutes, with his bouncing effort being tipped around the left-hand post by Gerrard.
The resulting corner was cleared, but Kilkenny was presented with another chance to cross from the clearance and midfielder Johnson diverted the excellent ball narrowly wide with another diving header in what was almost a carbon copy of Leeds' first goal.
BOOKING - Michael Collins received the first yellow card of the game in the 54th minute for a crude challenge from behind on Bradley Johnson in the centre circle.
Joe Skarz pulled off a tremendous sliding block in the 57th minute to deny Douglas what looked like a certain goal.
SUBS - Mick Docherty made all three substitutions in one go in the 61st minute, bringing on Dan Codman, Daniel Broadbent and Shane Killock for Keigan Parker, David Unsworth and Michael Collins.
These changes saw Codman slot in at left-back, with Joe Skarz pushing forward to join Tom Clarke in central midfield.
Town went very close to scoring another set-piece in the 67th minute - this time a free-kick. Phil Jevons was fouled on the left edge of the box by defender Webb and once again, Jevo picked himself up and struck the bar with an excellent effort. Tom Clarke followed up, but his volley was deflected wide for a corner.
GOAL - From that corner, the Terriers went ahead for a third time. Joe Skarz's excellent delivery was nodded towards goal firmly by Tom Clarke, but the goalkeeper parried the ball straight up in the air. Several players challenged for the dropping ball, but it was Phil Jevons who managed to get there on the line and stab the ball in.
Leeds came back once more and it took another excellent Skarz block to send a Becchio shot looping over the crossbar in the 72nd minute.
Town were composed in possession despite the Leeds pressure and for the next ten minutes Leeds were restricted to one half-chance - a narrow-angle volley from the lively Elliott that never troubled the Town goal in the 80th minute.
The home side did hit the bar in the 83rd minute; Johnson's excellent 25-yard left foot volley rendering Paul Gerrard helpless before ricocheting to safety.
United had several hopeful long-shots as the final whistle approached, but Town's defence stood firm and gave the Terriers all three points in what was a very watchable game.
FINAL SCORE: LEEDS UNITED 2 TOWN RESERVES 3
Leeds United:
Alan Martin, Paul Telfer, Aidan White, Andrew Hughes, Lubomir Michalik, Jonathan Webb, Jonathan Douglas, Neil Kilkenny, Tom Elliott, Luciano Becchio, Bradley Johnson
Unused Substitutes: Nathan Cartman, Chris Ovington, Mathew Edwards, Andrew Milne, Liam Darville
Town Reserves:
Paul Gerrard, James Smith, Joe Skarz, Tom Clarke, Nathan Clarke, David Unsworth (Shane Killock 61), Malvin Kamara, Michael Collins (Dan Codman 61), Luke Beckett, Phil Jevons, Keigan Parker (Daniel Broadbent 61)
Unused Substitutes: Alex Smithies, Tom Denton
Booked: Michael Collins (54)
