Division Three Play Off: Semi Final - First Leg.
Love 'em or loathe 'em, the league Play Offs are now part and parcel of the English game. The two legged Semi final has become a cup tie lottery where form books are discarded and even the most hardy supporter is left with nervous exhaustion. For the eventual winners of the Play Offs, the prize on offer is immense. For the losers however, it could mean so much more than heartbreak. Those of us who have followed the fortunes of Leeds United AFC know that it has been a magnificent achievement to get to this point. When Wise abandoned a bandwagon with 3 flat tyres mid season, the prospects of even getting to the Play Offs were fading fast and with them the chance of a period of much needed stability at the club should we get promoted. For the last few years, stability has been lacking in so many areas at the club & not only off the pitch. Due mainly to two relegations in the space of four years, the picture on the pitch has been anything other than stable. With Macca and co performing a remarkable "pit stop", the club has not only stopped the freefall, but both galvanised and progressed, underlining why Bates moved to extend their contracts. So on the managerial front, we have some kind of stability at least for another season. However one fears yet another exodus of players should the fickle finger of fate decide that once again, Leeds United AFC are doomed to failure...
Many suggest that the squad, as it stands, would not be far off cannon fodder in the Championship. However, there's a good nucleus of players in place if we can keep the talented ones together. This combinded with attracting a smattering of new faces, a feat we would surely manage upon promotion, would give us a good chance of staying up. As it stands that is all "stuff and nonsense" and as Bates always plans for the "Worst case", its the fear of what another season in League One would bring that linger. Many are already talking about the prospect of another turn over of first team players and that would make next season look like a mountain to climb and thats even though we would be starting off at Zero points. The stakes for the club seem once again high and with these happy thoughts going through the back of the mind we prepared to face Carlisle. It was more than ironic that as Kandol hit the back of the net as opposed to Row Z against Gillingham, his goal scoring act unwittingly changed the Play Off picture completely. Had we finished 6th, we would have drawn Doncaster Rovers. Whilst they beat Leeds at Elland Road this season, they may have been more preferable over two legs than Carlisle. Despite recent form, they have given us two magnificent games this season. Beating Wise & Bassett's side 3-1 at Brunton Park and narrowly losing to Macca's side 3-2 at Elland Road. Before tonight's game, Leeds United had only ever played twice on May 12th. In 1984 we drew 3-3 with Birmingham City and in 1984, we beat Charlton Athletic 1-0...
If we were looking for omens, as we football fans tend to do, then this wasn't the best. Lest we forget, back in 1987 and after beating Oldham on the away goals rule in the Play Off Semis, the two legged final against Division One Charlton Athletic had ended in stalemate. With no plans in place for how the tie should be decided, the FA hastily got their heads together and decreed that the replay would be held at Birmingham City's ground on the Friday night. 15,000 of the White Army, along with 3,000 Charlton fans made the trip. It was a tight and nervy affair and when Whites skipper Ormsby was stretchered off, it was looking like going pear shaped for a set of supporters still reeling from the FA Cup Semi final disappointment. As the game entered extra time however, things took an upturn. A free kick for handball was awarded on the edge of the Charlton area and John Sheridan sized up the opportunity. With "Bob Boulder like a cat on hot bricks" Shez sent the ball over the wall and screaming into the net. With one foot in Division One, the Whites looked to try and hold on to the lead whilst the fans tried to roar them to glory. However, Leeds hearts were broken by a Yorkshire born defender called Peter Shirtliff. Shirtliff popped up to score 2 goals in 4 minutes during the second half of extra time to keep Charlton up and cap off yet another glorious defeat for the Whites...
That was the first time Leeds United had taken part in the Play Off's and after a historical, but draining season, tonight we embarked on number three. "Third time lucky" was the defiant mantra as we arrived at the ground and yet another sell out crowd assembled for what we hoped would see the Whites take some sort of advantage into the second leg. Macca decided to change the shape of the team and sprung a couple of surprises in his team selection. Johnson was suprisingly kept at left back and Prutton drafted onto the left wing. So with Casper in goal, he was protected by a back four of Lubo, Huntingdon, Johnson and Fraser. Prutton, Kilkenny, Douglas and Howson made up the midfield and the returning Beckford joined Freedman up front. It was loud, it was proud, it was Elland Road at its howling best. However, the first bad omen of the night struck immediately, losing the toss and the boys forced to play towards the Revie stand in the first half. Still, the noise levels went louder and we got underway. Once again, Carlisle had stuck to the trusty 451 formation and as the game began at a frenetic pace, they should have been 1-0 up after just 8 minutes. Graham's ball into the box was fired onto the post by Bridge-Wilkinson who was unmarked and just 8-yards out...
A few minutes later and up the other end, a terrific curling 25 yarder from Freedman had Westwood diving to his left to tip round the post. It was turning into a terrific open game for the neutral, but too open for the White Army's liking. Carlisle were breaking swiftly as Leeds moves broke down far too easily. It was looking like some of the Leeds players were already freezing under the pressure. Carlisle players on the other hand were more than rising to the occasion, they were first to every second ball and crunching into hard tackles all over the park. Casper made a brave stop from a Graham header and straight up the other end for Freedman again to lob just wide. It was breathless stuff and no bloody good for the heart. In the centre, the extra Carlisle man was telling, they had men over and Douglas and Howson were struggling. 30 breathless minutes on the clock and the ball is at Beckford's feet, he is 25 yards out and he shapes to shoot and in slow motion, Beckford fires a brilliant curling shot towards the far post with goal written all over it. Once again, Westwood dives left and manages to just get a finger tip to divert it for a corner...
It was a pivotal moment in the game as two minutes later, disaster. Johnson's cross field ball to Fraser was ill advised and Fraser made a hash of things, conceding a corner. As the corner came it, it was headed out to Hackney, who volleyed it goalwards and with the aid of a defection, it was 0-1. Though Carlisle had played well, the goal was fucking jammy. Casper had the ball covered until the deflection and he was left stranded as the ball flew past him. The crowd was deflated for only a moment, then the roar of defiance as we looked to pick the boys up. The game continued to flow and the Whites had two chances to level before halftime. Firstly Douggie has a rasping shot well held, and secondly, after Carlisle had got away with what looked like blatant back pass the keeper picked up, a brilliant move saw Kilkenny slip in Beckford, through on the left hand side of goal, he was thwarted by yet another great save by Westwood. A fully fit and sharp Beckford would have snapped up the chance, as it was, the ball went for a corner. Halftime was met with an air of nervous chatter, for the neutral it was great entertainment, for the fans, it was fucking murder. With the noise levels raised to the sound of Champions of Europe, the teams came back out and we prayed for a second half revival...
It was not forthcoming as Carlisle were again quicker out of the blocks and scenting blood. With our defence again all at sea, we were managing to give the visitors the freedom of the park and it was young Howson who got caught in possession just minutes in. The ever dangerous Bridge - Wilkinson robbed him of the ball and ran free on goal, only a brilliant stop by Casper prevented a goal. The visitors were not to be denied moments later as once again, they strode though the midfield and defence like we were not there. Fraser got stranded as two players attacked him, Horwood was slipped into the box and he had the presence of mind to square the ball to Bridge - Wilkinson for 0-2 and what looked like a knock out blow. The heads dropped on the park, the heads dropped off it. Elland Road deflated as the Carlisle fans went mental. The boys tried to rally, but everything was laboured and becoming predictable. With Johnson marooned at left back, we had no natural left hand width and no outlet. The only width we had at all was provided by Fraser and though he made some good runs, all the time a break for the visitors was on the cards. Before being taken off for Kandol, Beckford had a long range effort easily dealt with and Douggie had a shot on the hour that caused problems...
Carlisle were fighting for everything and more importantly, they looked like they still had another goal in them. However, with 20 minutes left, Carlisle, rather than go for the throat and kill off the tie dropped deep and decided to try shut up shop. With Kandol on we looked to try a more direct route and almost got back into the game when a ball to the back stick was headed back across by a mixture of Kandol, Dougie and a defender, keeper Westwood continued his fine form by touching it over the bar. It was the signal for the Whites to keep up a period of sustained pressure for the first time in the game. The noise levels went back up and all of a sudden, there seemed a glint of hope. We looked to have a good shout for a penalty as the ball hit a Carlisle arm in the box, but the ref had none of it and as time ticked down, Macca decided to make a change. The unlucky Prutton made way for Seb Carole and we finally had some sort of wide man on the park. If nothing else his presence gave more hope to the crowd and he responded by running at players and getting the ball into the box. Kilkenny tried one from 25 yards that flew over the bar, before in a final mad push, we had a couple of corners and half chances...
The best falling to the feet of Johnson as a free kick was awarded on the edge of the area. Johnson's tremendous shot was met by a Carlisle head at full stretch to head away for another corner. It was looking like simply not being our day when the assistant put up 4 minutes injury time. From the resultant corner, Huntingdon saw a snap shot charged down by Murphy and it seemed that the last chance had gone. However with nearly 6 minutes stoppage time on the clock, Huntingdon launched one into the box, Kandol and sub Hughes challenged for it and it bounced to Freedman who hit it first time through the keepers legs and in. Elland Road exploded as we had just been handed the most unexpected lifeline in a game where we appeared to be dead and buried. There was just enough time for the kick off when the ref blew his whistle for what was, over all, a deserved win for the visitors. It could have been so different had keeper Westwood not decided that tonight was the night he would play out of his skin but such is life. From our perspective, too many players under performed on the night. It was reminiscent of the home leg against Preston in 2006 and whether due to complacency or freezing in front of an intense home crowd, we have to be thankful that we are down, but not yet out...
So we head to Carlisle on Thursday night with small hope in our hearts. We know the statistics, we know that Carlisle have a great home record and we know that team's seldom overturn a deficit after being beaten at home in the Play Off first leg. However, in many respects, this has been the most bizarre season for Leeds United AFC in living memory, just don't rule out another twist...
Leeds United AFC... "To climb steep hills requires a slow pace at first"... Keep Fighting...