Date: Wednesday, 8^th January 1969.

Venue: Elland Road, Leeds.

Competition: FA Cup Third Round Replay.

Score: Leeds United 1 Sheffield Wednesday 3

Scorers: Leeds United: Johanneson. Sheffield Wednesday: Woodall (2), Ritchie.

Attendance: 48,234.

Teams:

Leeds United: Sprake; Reaney, Madeley; Bremner (Belfitt), Charlton, Hunter; E. Gray, Lorimer, Jones, Bates, Johanneson.

Sheffield Wednesday: Springett; Smith, Megson; Ellis, Mobley, Young; Irvine, McCalliog, Ritchie, Eustace, Woodall.

Referee: Mr J. Finney (Hereford).

United were strongly favoured to progress to the Fourth Round, as they had been installed as 13-2 FA Cup favourites, when they took on Yorkshire neighbours Sheffield Wednesday in a Third Round Replay at Elland Road in January 1969. Having drawn 1-1 at Hillsborough the previous Saturday, courtesy of a Peter Lorimer penalty they were expected to dispose of Wednesday on home territory.

In the game at Hillsborough United could be forgiven for thinking that they were desperately unlucky not to have won. Only an eagle eyed linesman had cut short United’s celebrations when they thought they had gone 2-0 up and had the game in the bag before an half-hour had elapsed. United had quickly taken control of the game and Eddie Gray had waltzed through the Wednesday defence and Mike O’Grady looked a certain scorer before he was brought down in the box by Don Megson. With Johnny Giles out with a thigh strain, Peter Lorimer stepped up and beat Peter Springett with a low shot into the corner of the net after eighteen minutes. Ten minutes later Paul Madeley had the ball in the net when he headed in a corner. Referee Jim Finney had already signalled a goal and the jubilant United players were surprised when he noticed his linesman with his flag up and after a quick discussion he accepted the linesman’s word there had been an infringement and disallowed the goal. Things got worse as just before half-time after Wednesday goalkeeper Peter Springett launched a kick deep into United’s half and Jim McCalliog headed on as John Ritchie stole half yard on Jack Charlton and Norman Hunter and though Gary Sprake was awake to the danger Ritchie angled a left foot strike past the keeper and just inside the post as he tried to close him down. Peter Lorimer squandered a good chance after he had beaten the Wednesday offside trap and Springett only just got his finger tips to a strong Jack Charlton header but it was enough to push it over the bar. It was not all one-way traffic ad Gary Sprake brilliantly turned away a Jim McCalliog shot and Jack Charlton cleared a David Ford effort of the line but on balance United could justly feel they were unlucky to be forced to a replay.

For the Elland Road replay Wednesday brought in twenty-year-old Brian Woodall for David Ford while United, who had been without Johnny Giles and Terry Cooper at Hillsborough, brought in Albert Johanneson for a rare appearance in place of the injured Mike O’Grady, but the loss of the inspirational Billy Bremner after an hour of the game, did not assist matters. However, while these factors did not help their performance, those who did play were still expected to put up a better showing than they did. Peter Eustace was hard, brainy and accurate, and Vic Mobley, who destroyed United’s potential in attack, were the men of the match as Wednesday won in convincing style as United’s team and individual reputations dissolved.

Even when Albert Johanneson, making his first full appearance of the season, took advantage of a short punch-out by Wednesday keeper Peter Springett to give United the lead after eight minutes, the goal was against the run of play.

However, Wednesday had a star of their own with young reserve Brian Woodall and it was he who brought Wednesday level in the thirty-sixth minute when he forced a Wilf Smith cross which was delivered in an arc over the United defence for the young winger to screw the ball into the far corner from an acute angle. United had already been given a scare before the equaliser when Peter Eustace had hit the bar with a fierce volley and then forced Gary Sprake into a brilliant save to keep his goal intact. However, United fell behind three minutes into the second half when the youngster got his and Wednesday’s second goal when he smashed the ball home from a Vic Mobley knock down following an Archie Irvine corner.

With Captain Billy Bremner off with a back injury United’s desperation increased after Peter Springett pulled of a miraculous save to save a Jack Charlton shot. Mick Jones had a goal disallowed and saw another effort hit the bar and a soaring Jack Charlton header also went over after hitting the bar. However, Wednesday refused to buckle under the pressure but there was no way back for United as the Owls went further ahead five minutes from time. Jim McCalliog began a move which set up John Ritchie in a break-away clincher. United’s unbeaten home record had gone and the majority of Elland Road’s biggest crowd of the season left greatly disappointed.

There was, however, plenty of good times to come for United followers that season. Revie’s men went on to clinch the League Championship, remaining unbeaten in their last eighteen League games, twelve of which were won.

Match Action:

Mick Jones flies high at Hillsborough

John Ritchie scores at Hillsborough

Paul Madeley ‘scores’ at Hillsborough

Paul Madeley ‘scores’ at Hillsborough from another angle

Albert Johanesson opens the scoring at Elland Road

Teams:

Players:

Billy Bremner was missed by Leeds after he was injured at Elland Road. Peter Lorimer got the Leeds goal at Hillsborough while Albert Johanesson scored at Elland Road

Peter Eustace and ex Leeds Junior Jim McCalliog were influential for Wednesday. John Ritchie got a goal in both games, while Brian Woodall got two at Elland Road