Match
Leeds United vs Kettering Town
 5 - 1 
Date: 
08/12/2009
Venue: 
Elland Road
Attendance: 
10,670
Referee: 
P Crossley
Match Report

UNITED HIT FIVE TO SECURE FA CUP PROGRESS

 08 Dec 2009

UNITED 5 (Becchio 20, Grella 118, Kandol 119, Grella 125, Beckford 129), KETTERING 1 (Elding 62)

United: Ankergren, Hughes (Grella 106), Bromby, Michalik, White (Capaldi 56), Howson, Doyle, Kilkenny, Snodgrass, Beckford, Becchio (Kandol 76). Subs: A Martin, Crowe, Marques, Prutton.

Kettering: Harper, Taylor, Roper, Dempster, Davis, Noubissie (Fowler 106), Boucaud, Heslop, Partridge (Wrack 96), Elding, Bain. Subs: Bussey, Cooper, Thomas, Cherry.

Referee: P Crossley

Booked: Snodgrass (United), Dempster (Kettering)

Att: 10,670

You can see reaction plus extended highlights later on LUTV

United boss Simon Grayson made three changes to his starting line-up with Andrew Hughes, Aidy White, and Luciano Becchio all returning to the side.

The prize for this FA Cup second round replay was a trip to Old Trafford, and it was Leeds who started brightly, forcing Kettering to clear their lines early. Jermaine Beckford also lifted a shot over the top while Becchio had an effort blocked by Ian Roper.

<a class=Luciano Becchio celebrates United&#039;s opener" hspace=0 src="/javaImages/66/3/0,,10273~7865190,00.jpg" width=360 align=left>The early pressure was all United's, Neil Kilkenny going closest inside the opening 15 minutes when he curled a shot narrowly wide of the upright.

Leeds spent the opening 20 minutes knocking at the Kettering door, and the reward came when Robert Snodgrass whipped in a cross from the left and Becchio converted with a firm header.

Moments later Kettering player-boss Lee Harper pulled off a good save to prevent Beckford from making it 2-0, and when the striker got the ball back on the right, Snodgrass picked up the cross and fired wide.

The visitors entered the United half for the first time on 25 minutes when Anthony Elding lifted a shot over the top when faced with a decent chance.

But Leeds swiftly came back, and Beckford went close following a Snodgrass cross. Kilkenny, who was being given the freedom of the middle of the park, also came within a whisker when he struck the upright with a terrific strike from distance.

As the game headed towards half-time, Harper saved Kettering again with a good effort to deny Jonny Howson while Lubo Michalik sent a free-kick whizzing past the post.

 United started the second half in similar fashion, Micky Doyle trying his luck with a shot from distance moments after the re-start.

It could have been 2-0 on 50 minutes, but Becchio headed a Kilkenny cross against the inside of the upright before it was cleared by Harper, and Beckford was next to go close when he thought he had a shot blocked by a defender's hand.

It was almost like a game of shots-in with Harper smothering a shot from Beckford as United attacked again. Kettering were struggling to cope with United's passing and movement, and it was pretty much one-way traffic.

On 56 minutes, Grayson was forced into making his first change when White limped out of the action to be replaced by Tony Capaldi.

But, as the game hit thehour-mark, Kettering started to throw caution to the wind and finally looked to attack United. The visitors won successive corners and a free-kick inside the Leeds half.

Mike Grella jumps with joy after sealing the tie

Snodgrass picked up his fifth yellow card of the season on 61 minutes, and the Scot will now miss Saturday's trip to Brentford.

United suffered a much bigger body blow the following minute when Kettering grabbed an equaliser.

Simon Heslop, who had really come into the game in the middle of the park, was the architect and a cross from the Kettering right was headed home by one-time Leeds striker Anthony Elding to level matters.

The goal gave the visitors another lift, but it was good play from Leeds that almost restored the advantage, Beckford firing wide after Snodgrass was instrumental down the left.

Howson also bent a shot wide of the upright as United looked to step things up in search of a winner while Kettering goalkeeper Harper somehow turned a Kilkenny effort round the post with his body.

The game had really opened up with both sides looking to exploit openings. United were looking the bigger threat, Snodgrass had a shot blocked, but with seven minutes of normal time remaining the outcome was still in the balance.

Leeds were piling on the pressure in the closing stages, a flurry of corners was ended when substitute Tresor Kandol got up well, but couldn't quite direct his header on target.

In the dying moments, Kandol came even closer when he had a great downward header hacked off the line, but the score remained at 1-1 and 30 minutes extra time was needed.

United started the extra period on the front foot and after some good pressure, Snodgrass rattled the woodwork yet again for United before Kettering were able to clear their lines.

Leeds dominated the first 15 minutes, but were unable to find a break through as the tie edged nearer to a penalty shoot-out. For the final period, Grayson introduced Mike Grella in place of Hughes.

And it was Grella who made an immediate impact when he fired United back in front with 12 minutes remaining. Leigh Bromby stood up well to get in his cross and Grella converted.

Less than 60 seconds later it was all over. Kandol started and finished a move that involved Snodgrass by heading the ball home to make it 3-1.

If there was any doubt, a second goal from Grella put the seal on the evening. The United sub scored the pick of the bunch with a delightful curler to leave Harper with no chance.

There was still time for a fifth, though, when Kandol turned a Grella pass into the path of Beckford who slid the ball home to make it a nap hand for United as Grayson's men set up a third round trip to Old Trafford.

MATCH INFORMATION
Netflights
Macron
Paddy Power
OHS
Europcar
Crosswater