Programme:
Match Report: Yorkshire Post 04-10-1955: Courtesy Steve Bell
Lost lead in last 30 seconds
United held by Halifax Town
By ERIC STANGER: LEEDS UNITED 2 HALIFAX TOWN 2
Leeds United began their "little season" of floodlit football at Elland Road when they were held to a draw by Halifax Town in the
semi-final of the West Riding Senior Cup, of which they are the holders. Although the Third Division side snatched a replay only in the
last half minute, they deserved to draw for their stout defence and because they played for long periods with far more dash and enthuisiasm.
United were inclined to play too much to John Charles and were often puzzled by Halifax's policy of defence in depth, which they adopted
after taking the lead in the twentieth minute. It was a defensive error that led to the goal. Wood failed to gather a long ball cleanly and when
it squirted out to the left the United defence was in such a tangle that Sharp was able to shoot into an empty net. United, though they did the
bulk of the attacking, seldom worked smoothly together, but they had their moments, such as when Charles let fly with a typical effort which
Johnson punched away spectacularly and when Ripley beat both Horsman and Darbyshire and hit the bar. Gradually in the second half
Leeds pressure told, stoutly though Horsman, Griffiths and Lonsdale defended. But there were only seventeen minutes left when Nightingale
cut in to the by-line and crossed the ball for Ripley to tap it into the net. Twelve minutes from the end and Ripley, United's best forward, who
had again hit the bar with a beautiful twisting header, took a through pass from Henderson to put United into the lead. Then with less than a
minute left Wood blundered again to give Clarke an unexpected equaliser. United throughout made hard work of their football and lack of
smoothness and understanding was not wholly attributable to having fielded almost an entire reserve left flank. Halifax, without Willie Watson,
fought every bit of the way and their young forwards, with limited opportunities often caused United's defence trouble.
Leeds United: Wood; Hair, Ashall; Charles, Charlton, Gunby; Nightingale, Ripley, Brook, Henderson, Lydon.
Halifax Town: Johnson; Griffiths, Lonsdale; Darbyshire, Horsman, Bell; Dubois, Rodger, Clarke, Baker, Sharp.
Match Report: Halifax Daily Courier & Guardian 03-10-1955: Courtesy Steve Bell
Town team for floodlit match
Halifax Town team for to-night's floodlit game against Leeds United at Leeds is Johnson; Griffiths, Ferguson; Darbyshire, Horsman,
Bell; Dubois, Rodger, Clarke, Baker, Sharp.
Kick off 7.30 p.m.
Match Report: Halifax Daily Courier & Guardian 04-10-1955: Courtesy Steve Bell
HALIFAX TOWN AND LEEDS DRAW CUP-TIE 2-2
Lively play by Shay team at Elland Road
When Halifax Town were leading by a goal for more than an hour in their semi-final tie of the West Riding Senior Cup against Leeds United,
at Elland Road, Leeds under floodlights last evening, it appeared as if they would gain the tonic victory they needed
A couple of quick goals to United by inside-right Ripley in the space of seven minutes, however, transformed the game but Clarke equalised
for Town in the last minute to earn a well-deserved replay, writes "Hotspur".
It was a fast and exciting match. Both sides had changes through injuries. Leeds, however had a strong team available. Willie Watson having
a strained muscle, Ferguson a knee injury and Breaks unable to get off work were factors which caused the Town changes
Yet the side by its nippiness and smart all-round play won the hearts of the crowd by giving fight and purpose to the match and ensuring a close
contest, all through:it was really an honest to goodness sporting contest and I say let's have more of this sample of form repeated down at the Shay.
Town owed much to their defence in the opening phases of the game when the Shay rearguard with Horsman taking the chief honours in defence
and Griffiths vying with him, performed magnificently.
JOHNSON SAFE
The return of Dubois at outside-right made for improvement as did the inclusion of Clarke at centre-forward. Johnson in the Town goal handled the
ball cleanly and was always safe and reliable. He won applause for a masterly save from John Charles during the first half by fisting away for a corner
a fullblooded power drive by the Welsh international, who completed a swift run.
In the second half, Darbyshire all but regained the lead for Town soon after Ripley (73 minutes) had put Leeds on terms with an easy chance when
Nightingale nicely squared the ball across goal. Darbyshire released a left-foot drive which somehow Wood held.
Dubois early on showed his paces in the Town attack with his disconcertive short dribble and quick run, beating his man neatly.
Yet Leeds were repeatedly dangerous on both flanks and brought out the best in the Town's defenders before any goal had been scored. Their
finishing was unsteady due to Town's prompt tackling.
USED THE BALL
Town used the ball well and showed teamwork much better than that of the last few League matches. Though Watson sat in the stand his influence
was evident in the play and Leeds officials afterwards said they could not understand why Town should occupy such a lowly League position.
Johnson, who was well covered, showed anticipation in coming out of his goal. Rodger brought Wood to a grand save in the first half and newcomer
Baker showed inituative, but was inclined as happened with Clarke once, to complete a move by giving an extrapass instead of having a crack at goal.
After Johnson had saved from Ripley, Town, who had fewer chances than Leeds, went ahead after 20 minutes play. The goal directly resulted from a
misunderstanding in the United defence which had been split by the Town forwards, with Clarke almost through to score but he fell with a defender to the
ground. However, the ball was put across to Sharp on the left, who returned a quick acute-angle shot into the net.
MERITED LEAD
Brook put over the bar for the United, for whom goalkeeper Wood had to turn a high dropping shot over.
Town stemmed United's efforts at an equaliser and themselves attacked and forced two fruitless corners. Baker, nearly increased Town's lead, a
defender hastily deflecting his effort for another flag kick with Wood out of his goal.
Ripley drove against the crossbar for Leeds before the interval. Sharp, Baker and Clark combined neatly, the last-named finishing badly to the left of
goal. Next from an opening by Charles, Brook fired just wide.
Town turned round at the interval with a lead which they had merited, by some smart teamwork.
Rodger almost increased their lead after the resumption when Wood saved his low shot after a Griffiths free-kick. Sharp was a bag of tricks and very
dangerous on the move and the Town line of attackers, with good support moved more satisfactorily than for some time.
LEAPED TO SAVE
Johnson leaped to save to save a Ripley header and Wood fisted out from Dubois after he and Clarke had raided. Wood also saved at the expense
of a corner-kick after Sharp and Rodger had been troublesome. Johnson also saved splendidly from Lydon just before Ripley put United level. The United
inside-right soon afterwards headed against the Town crossbar.
Johnson was also alert in saving from Brook near a post.
After 80 minutes Ripley took advantage of a through pass by Henderson to give Leeds the lead for the first time.
Town hit back and Wood advanced to clear from the on-rushing Clarke - a last ditched effort. Town continued to fight back in spirited fashion, and they
were rewarded with their late equaliser in the last minute. Clarke was on the spot to crash the ball home after Wood had fisted away.
Scorers - Leeds United (2) Ripley (2) Halifax Town (2) Sharp (1) Clarke (1)
Attendance: 6,500
Teams: Leeds United: Wood; Dunn, Ashall; Charles, Charlton, Gunby; Nightingale, Ripley, Brook, Henderson, Lydon.
Halifax Town: Johnson; Griffiths, Lonsdale; Darbyshire, Horsman, Bell; Dubois, Rodger,Clarke, Baker, Sharp.
Referee: T. Seymour (Wakefield)
