Leeds: Tom Elliott (7, 81), Andy Robinson (35)
Town's unbeaten record at reserve team level in the 2008/09 totesport.com League came to an end at the Galpharm Stadium this evening courtesy of an experienced Leeds United side inspired by former Swansea and Tranmere midfielder Andy Robinson.
The stocky midfielder scored one himself and set up another from striker Tom Elliott, who himself netted a brace, but Paul Stephenson's side stuck to their task well and Town's Development Coach will have learned a few things about the character of his side.
Paul Stephenson's side started the game in a 4-4-1-1 formation, with 'keeper Eastwood protected by a back four of Werling, Ridehalgh, skipper Lucketti and Hunt. Ainsworth and Chippendale occupied the right and left wings respectively either side of central duo Holdsworth and Berrett, with Craney playing just off under-18 top scorer Heagney in attack.
A far bigger crowd than the usual were present for the 7pm kick-off and the home side started well, pushing the visitors back into their own half. However, Leeds showed that they were very comfortable on the ball when they had possession and it was midfielder Bradley Johnson who was the first to try his luck on goal with a 25-yard free-kick that deflected wide of Eastwood's left-hand post in the 6th minute.
GOAL - Leeds took the lead a minute later through Tom Elliott. The ball was worked down Leeds' right side, with full-back Frazer Richardson whipping a good ball to the back post; the Town defence was trying to push out as the ball was delivered and were caught on the back foot as the big striker rose to plant a firm header to Eastwood's right side to give the visitors the lead.
Town soon regained their composure, with Ainsworth looking like a good outlet down the right side and engaging full-back White in an interesting battle. However, it was the lively away side that went close to a second on the stroke of the 12th minute when winger Robinson stole the ball from full-back Hunt and tried to chip Simon Eastwood, with the ball drifting onto the top of the net.
The stocky Leeds midfielder went even closer a minute later after embarking on a mazy dribble; drifting past three defenders before sending a low shot towards goal from just fifteen yards out that Eastwood saved well with an outstretched leg.
The strong visiting outfit should have doubled their lead in the 14th minute after another cross from Richardson found American striker Grella unmarked inside the area. However, from an almost identical position that the opening goal was scored the blonde-haired forward placed his header horribly wide.
Town settled down again, with James Berrett showing remarkable composure on the ball under extreme pressure from opponents on a few occasions to get the ball out wide early. Town started to see their fair share of the ball again and Prutton was lucky to get away without a booking after he blatantly tripped Academy winger Chippendale in the 23rd minute.
However, Town had to be grateful to 'keeper Eastwood in the 26th minute after he denied Grella a goal in a classic one-on-one situation. Striker Elliott knocked the ball forward ahead of Chris Lucketti before Grella came out of a challenge with Ridehalgh with the ball; he advanced into the area and tried to round the Town 'keeper, but Easty read his intentions perfectly and dived to his right to smother the ball at his feet.
Town then created a half chance a minute later when Ainsworth collected the ball on the edge of the Leeds box after a defender only half-cleared a cross, but the winger blasted a volley way over the crossbar.
Leeds danger man Robinson then skipped past the challenge of Jack Hunt on the dead ball line in the 32nd minute, but only succeeded in drilling a low cross straight at Simon Eastwood despite having an area packed with potential targets.
GOAL - Andy Robinson did score a fantastic second goal for the visitors in the 35th minute to extend their lead. The midfielder made the goal look very simple - he collected a stray pass from centre-back Ridehalgh in the centre of the park before steadying himself, looking up and sending a swerving long range effort past the helpless Simon Eastwood from fully 28 yards out.
Leeds were denied by the excellent Eastwood again on the stroke of the 40th minute after a midfielder expertly picked out a clever run by striker Grella; rather than shooting when through on goal, the forward tried to round the goalkeeper but was once again foiled by the Town custodian, who dived to his right side at full stretch to collect the ball.
Dom Werling then tried his luck with a long range piledriver two minutes later, only to see his effort flash over the bar.
HALF-TIME: TOWN RESERVES 0 LEEDS UNITED 2
SUB - Leeds made a double change during the interval, with Liam Darville and Josh Falkingham replacing Michalik and White.
Paul Stephenson had decided to change the shape of his side during the interval, with Town moving to a traditional 4-4-2 shape. Holdsworth was now at right-back, with Academy man Hunt on the right wing and Ainsworth playing as a striker alongside Heagney.
The move almost paid off immediately in the 48th minute when Werling crossed to the back post for Ainsworth, but the forward headed over the bar when well positioned.
Leeds still carried a potent threat and Robinson drifted infield in the 50th minute to collect a short pass from Prutton and fire a 25-yard drive inches wide of Eastwood's left-hand post.
SUB - Leeds defender Tom Lees went down with an injury in the 53rd minute and had to be replaced - his place on the pitch was taken by Andrew Milne.
Town then built another good chance down the right flank from the restart. James Berrett did well to get to the dead ball line and put in a low cross, where Craney pulled the ball back across goal; Dom Werling was rushing in to fire a shot towards goal, but instead Ainsworth span on the ball on the edge of the box and sent a low shot narrowly wide of goal.
Ainsworth was then robbed of the ball when just 35 yards out from his own goal by the impressive Robinson just before the hour mark and the Leeds man found teammate Prutton with a low ball into the area, only for the long haired Leeds man to send a curling shot wide of goal.
It looked like Leeds would go three up a minute later after Richardson sent a looping cross into the area for Tom Elliott - the physical forward did well to hold off Lucketti, but powered his headed effort into the floor to the extent that it bounced over the bar.
American forward Grella then latched onto another clever through pass from Robinson in the 69th minute, but only succeeded in poking a tame effort straight at the 'keeper from the edge of the box while under heavy pressure from defender Ridehalgh.
SUB - Stephenson then introduced Academy midfielder Chris Atkinson to the game in the 71st minute - he replaced Lionel Ainsworth. He moved alongside Berrett in the middle of the park, with Craney joining Heagney in attack.
SUB - Town's second change followed in the 76th minute when first-year scholar Ryan Watson replaced Jack Hunt.
Town went the closest they had to scoring two minutes later after Ian Craney sent an intelligent chipped ball to the back post from the right channel for winger Chippendale to attack, but his effort was turned around the post by a combination of goalkeeper and defender.
Craney then tried his luck in the 79th minute after finding space down the left - firing a low cross-come-shot across the face of 'keeper Lucas' goal.
GOAL - Leeds then went up the other end of the pitch and made it 3-0 courtesy of Tom Elliott, although the goal was created through another great bit of play from midfielder Robinson. The former Swansea man collected the ball in behind the Town midfield before lobbing a beautiful pass over the top of Chris Lucketti for the onrushing striker, who poked the ball past the advancing Simon Eastwood and into the far corner.
SUB - Midfielder Lewis Nightingale was introduced as Town's third and final substitute in the 84th minute, replacing Aidan Chippendale.
The lively Craney then latched onto a clever ball over the top from Andy Holdsworth a minute later before trying to lob the goalkeeper from an acute angle; however, his effort drifted wide of goal.
A right sided cross from Robinson on the stroke of the 87th minute found the head of the impressive Elliott at the far post, but he sent his header straight at the goalkeeper.
A minute later Ian Craney sent a decent curling effort wide of the far post from the edge of the Leeds penalty area.
FULL-TIME: TOWN RESERVES 0 LEEDS UNITED 3
Huddersfield Town Reserves:
Simon Eastwood, Jack Hunt (Ryan Watson 76), Dominik Werling, Andy Holdsworth, Liam Ridehalgh, Chris Lucketti (c), Lionel Ainsworth (Chris Atkinson 71), James Berrett, David Heagney, Ian Craney, Aidan Chippendale (Lewis Nightingale 84)
Unused Subs: Dave Pickering, Lewis Collinson
Leeds United Reserves:
David Lucas, Frazer Richardson (c), Aidan White (Josh Falkingham 46), Andy Hughes, Tom Lees (Andrew Milne 53), Lubo Michalik (Liam Darville 46), David Prutton, Bradley Johnson, Tom Elliott, Mike Grella, Andy Robinson
Unused Subs: Ryan Jones, Will Hatfield
Attendance: 1,284
Visitors: 154
