31-07-07: Darlington (a) 1-0 (HT 0-0) Crowd (3,270)

United fielded just five signed-on players for the visit to Darlington, Jonathan Howson, Jermaine Beckford, Tresor Kandol, Sebastien Carole and Scott Gardner, while Ben Parker had been offered a deal. Scott Loach, Matt Heath, Alan Thompson, Curtis Weston and Rui Marques were all trying to impress the Manager and gain a contract, while Eddie Lewis, Frazer Richardson, triallist Leon Constantine were injured and Hull-bound Richard Cresswell were not included. Jonathan Douglas and David Prutton were omitted as they would be suspended for the opening League fixture. Clive Oliver (Ashington) was the referee and there were 1,467 Leeds fans in the crowd of 3,270 and the Leeds line-up was: Scott Loach; Scott Gardner, Rui Marques, Matt Heath, Ben Parker; Jonathan Howson, Alan Thompson, Curtis Weston, Sebastien Carole; Tresor Kandol, Jermaine Beckford. Fabian Delph came on for Alan Thompson after seventy-nine minutes and Robert Bayly replaced Sebastien Carole after eighty-three minutes, while Tom Elliott, Nick Hamann and youngster Simon Madden remained unused on the bench. Captain Alan Thompson was the standout performer for United and Jonathan Howson also caught the eye and laid on the United winner, while Tresor Kandol was an aerial threat and Jermaine Beckford was a constant danger. Scott Loach was never really threatened but only because Darlington failed to capitalise on several chances they were offered. United created few chances themselves, the first coming as early as the eighth minute when Tresor Kandol headed Alan Thompson’s free-kick over goalkeeper Andy Oakes but Tim Ryan did well to get back and hook it clear. Matt Heath headed across the goal from the resulting corner and towards half time Ryan again hooked the ball out from a Tresor Kandol header, while Steve Foster blocked a Jonathan Howson shot in the second half. For Darlington Tommy Wright missed three chances in three minutes and it would not have been a surprise if they had gone in at half-time two goals to the good. Leeds old boy Julian Joachim had an effort kicked away by Ben Parker and soon after came to United’s aid as he disposed Tommy Wright in the act of scoring and then Scott Loach saved smartly from Julian Joachim and Tommy Wright in quick succession. United finally scored in the sixty-seventh minute when Jonathan Howson broke through the middle and threaded a pass past two defenders and Jermaine Beckford finished coolly. Goalkeeper David Stockdale, central defenders Patrick Collins and Kevin Burgess, full-backs Ian Miller and Neil Wainwright, midfielders Michael Cummins, Rob Purdie and Jamie McMaster and strikers Sean Reay and Ian Harty all had a run as substitutes for the home side.

Programme & Ticket: