31-07-04: Hibernian (a) 3-1 (HT 0-1) Crowd (10,750)

Neil Sullivan made his United debut between the posts having completing his move to Elland Road on a two-year deal. Sixteen-year-old Simon Walton was again in midfield with Matthew Spring rested with a slight injury. Leeds played Brian Deane and Michael Ricketts in the striking roles but there was still room for a third striker Julian Joachim, but he was employed on the right wing. Danny Pugh was given the wide left role and Jermaine Wright completed the midfield. In the first half Leeds seemed apprehensive and played as if they were all strangers to each other. Hibernian were the more dangerous of the two teams in the first half with their main threat coming down the right wing from Scott Brown, and while his crosses were sent over with precision, Sullivan was untroubled as the Hibs forwards could not capitalize. It was more than fifteen minutes into the game before Tom McManus did get his head to a cross from the right but Sullivan was able to keep it out from just under the bar. Soon afterwards Julian Joachim was able to show his pace for the first time. Receiving the ball with his back to the goal, he turned Colin Murdock and sprinted clear, but while his shot had power, the Hibs keeper, Simon Brown, was able to turn it round the post. Ten minutes later Brian Deane was presented with a good oppurtunity but he snatched at his left foot shot and Simon Brown made a comfortable save. It looked like there would be no score, as the minutes ticked away and half-time approached, but a defensive error by Leeds gifted the home side the lead right on half time. United failed to clear their lines and Gary Kelly's block fell right in the path of Tom McManus, who hit a superb curling right foot shot which went in off the inside of Sullivan's left post. Hibs restarted the second half with Derek Riordan replacing Stephen Glass but it was Leeds who upped their tempo as soon as Frazer Richardson replaced Brian Deane eight minutes into the new half. Normally a right back, he slotted into midfield as Julian Joachim pushed up front to join Michael Ricketts and triggered a twelve minute spell in which United scored three goals, all involving Richardson, which took the game into United's command and help them lift the inaugral Whyte and MacKay Cup. Hibs replaced Colin Murdock with Gary Smith on the hour and then sent on Stephen Dobbie for Gary O'Connor and Sam Morrow for Tom McManus a minute later. Michael Ricketts opened the scoring for United soon afterwards in the sixty-second minute, when he hit a shot against the underside of the bar and, after the ball was not properly cleared, Frazer Richardson took possession and his measured cross was headed past Simon Brown by the Leeds striker for the equalizer. Four minutes later Frazer Richardson gained possession in midfield and was allowed to advance as the Hibernian defence stood off him. While still twenty-five yards out from goal he let fly with a shot that was deflected by Gary Smith, who had only just come on, past Simon Brown to give Leeds the lead for the first time. A minute later Leeds replaced Simon Walton with trialist Chris Bart-Williams and then Michael Ricketts got his second as Leeds made the score 3-1 in the seventy-fifth minute. Once more it was Richardson that was the provider, making a darting run down the left leaving three Hibs defenders in his wake before delivering a cheeky backheel into the path of Julian Joachim, who resisted making a shot on goal and played a pass across the goal which was thumped into the net from close range by Ricketts to seal the Leeds victory much to the pleasure of 1,800 travelling Leeds fans. Hibernian made their final two substitutions with Alen Orman coming on for Scott Brown and Kevin Nicol for Grant Brebner, leaving goalkeeper Ally Brown as their only unused substitute. A minute later Leeds brought on Danny Cadamateri for Matthew Kilgallon, and then in the eightieth minute made their final changes as Lucas Radebe replaced Michael Duberry, Clarke Carlisle came on for Paul Butler, Jamie McMaster for Danny Pugh and Andy Keogh for Michael Ricketts, leaving Scott Carson and Steve Guppy unused on the bench. It could have been a far more emphatic scoreline had Danny Cadamarteri found the time to shoot inside the area when he broke clear, but 3-1 was the perfect scoreline to end the pre-season for Leeds. The Referee was Hugh Dallas (Bonkle).

Programme:

Teamsheets & Programme and Tickets: Courtesy Mark Ledgard

Match Report by Simon Pia: Courtesy Mark Ledgard

Match Action: Courtesy Mark Ledgard

Lucas Radebe outheads Sam Morrow