07-07-07: Shelbourne (a) 2-0 (HT 1-0) Crowd (2,500)

Leeds had had its very existence threatened and fifteen points deducted before a ball was kicked in the new season, they were also hamstrung from buying or selling players in the period and as the pre-season games got underway the playing staff comprised triallists, Juniors and a smattering of contracted players. They went across the sea to Ireland to Dublin to take on Shelbourne and had the intention of playing a different eleven in each half to give each player a chance. In the first half they lined up: Gay; Bayly, Marques, Coughlan, Lewis; Carole, Fry, Howson, Westlake; Blake, Elliott. While the second half featured: Gay; Richardson, Heath, Douglas, Boertein; Mullan, Thompson, Prutton, Delph; Constantine, Kandol. Being the only keeper available ex-Norwich City and Southend United keeper Danny Gay played the entire game in goal. Paul Tuite was the referee with Ciaran Delaney and Rueban McManus his linesmen and Dave McKeon the fourth Official in front of an estimated crowd of 2,500 to 6,000. The home side had also been recruiting, picking up Lee Roche, Marc McCulloch, and Anthony Flood together with Mark O'Brien on loan and all were included in the squad. Sean L'Estrange was signed from Kildare County and Ciaran Quinn was brought in from Glenavon on the day of the game to swell their ranks even further. For Leeds, former Sheffield Wednesday skipper Graham Coughlan was at the heart of the defence and Hull City reject Russell Fry was in midfield. The rest of the team were more familiar faces with young Tom Elliott partnering Robbie Blake up front. Blake was soon in the action and clipped the top of the bar from a free-kick, which was won after he had been fouled. At the other end Robert Bayly reacted quickly to thwart a Shelbourne attack. Elliott and Blake combined well and almost made a chance for Ian Westlake, before Elliott made good ground only to see his cross hacked to safety by a Shelbourne defender. United enjoyed all the early pressure and Sebastien Carole rattled the bar after sixteen minutes. United finally took a deserved lead on the half-hour mark as Robbie Blake scored with a free-kick from the edge of the box. Three minutes later Blake found Elliott unmarked at the far post but the denied the young striker, who moments later headed over the bar. The second half saw a major reshuffle and new faces given an opportunity were former Derby County left back Paul Boertein, young ex-Manchester United winger Jamie Mullan, former Southampton midfielder David Prutton and Ex Port Vale striker Leon Constantine. Frazer Richardson replaced Robert Bayly, Matt Heath took over from Rui Marques. Jonathan Douglas for Graham Coughlan, Paul Boertian for Eddie Lewis, Jamie Mullan for Sebastien Carole, Alan Thompson for Russell Fry, David Prutton for Jonathan Howson, Fabian Delph for Ian Westlake, Leon Constantine for Robbie Blake and Tresor Kandol for Tom Elliott. Kieran Harte, Anthony Flood, Graham Curran, Jamie Gilbert, Niall O'Reilly, Daniel Broughan, Tony O'Dowd and Wayne Byrne were the substitutes for the home team. United won an early corner after Fabian Delph, Alan Thompson and David Prutton had combined well. Alan Thompson anchored the midfield, while Jonathan Douglas marshalled the defence in an unaccustomed role of central defender. Danny Gay had a relatively trouble free evening and it was midway through the second half before he was called upon to make a save from Anthony Flood. In the seventy-second minute he was forced into another save this time from Marc McCulloch but four minutes later United increased their lead, when Matt Heath headed down an Alan Thompson free-kick for David Prutton to score from close range. With four minutes to go Leon Constantine almost made it a scoring debut with a strong shot but the keeper touched it round for a corner, but all-in-all it was an impressive start by United.

Programme:

Teamsheet: Courtesy Mark Ledgard