Friday 25 April 2008

Freedman books Leeds United's place in the play-offs

Leeds United's made their first visit to Huise Park in search of the three points that will ensure a place in the League 1 play-offs. There is no place in the starting line-up for last Saturday's goal scorers David Prutton and Andy Hughes. Both sit on the bench, whilst injured striker Jermaine Beckford has failed to recover in time.

Yeovil's biggest ever crowd at Huise Park watched United make the best possible start when a goalmouth scramble in the 3rd minute ended with Dougie Freedman left-footed into the top-right of the goal from six yards, 1-0.

The Glovers, low in confidence, allowed United to dominate possession but still managed four or five chances to score. Freedman had two more chances to add to his goal for Leeds, Anthony Elding also had two chances on target, whilst Frazer Richardson and Jonathan Douglas had a chance apiece but the Whites failed to add to their score before the half-time whistle went.

The second half started with Yeovil showing more purpose and a shot from Antony Barry, in the 50th minute, from 25 yards, went wide.

Three minute later Bradley Johnson fired one in from 35 yards and the ball whistled only just over the bar.

Alan Sheehan was sent off in the 64th minute for a two-footed tackle on Yeovil's Lee Peltier. Frontman Elding was taken off in response and replaced by Hughes.

A trio of Yeovil corners were well defended by Leeds with 15 minutes to go. Johnson was replaced by Prutton in the 77th minute as the Glovers attempted to make their one-man advantage count.

With six minutes remaining Rui Marques came on for Neil Kilkenny.

A shot by Yeovil's Aiden Downes in the 87th minute brought a superb save by Casper Ankergran and Casper was there again one-minute later to catch a cross from Nathan Smith.

Four minutes of extra time seemed to last forever but United hung on to become the first club ever to reach the play-offs after starting with a points deduction. What a remarkable achievement!

Attendance 9527

Yeovil 0 Leeds United 1

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