NORTHAMPTON 2 (Crowe 44, 90), UNITED 5 (Beckford 13, 45, 55, Howson 28, Parker 41)

Northampton: Fielding, Crowe, Jackman, Hughes, Holt (Bignall 52), Davis, Gilligan, Dolman, Guttridge, Constantine (Henderson 71), McGleish. Subs: Dunn, Dyer, Benjamin, Jones, Taylor.

United: Lucas, Hughes, Telfer (Webb 76), Michalik, Parker, Kilkenny, Douglas, Howson, Prutton, Christie (Showunmi 70), Beckford (Becchio 71). Subs: Ankergren, Delph, Robinson, Snodgrass.

Referee: P Crossley

Booked: Crowe (Nhampton), Michalik (United)

Att: 3960 (1089 Leeds)

You can hear live commentary on Yorkshire Radio (DAB and Sky channel 0209) and LUTV...

United boss Gary McAllister handed a debut to striker Malcolm Christie, who has been training with the club, for the FA Cup first round replay at Northampton.

Andrew Hughes also earned a recall in place of skipper Frazer Richardson (illness) while Luciano Becchio and Fabian Delph were both rested from the starting line-up.

It was a damp miserable evening st Sixfields and the sparse home crowd was at least boosted by the presence of around 1100 travelling fans.

McAllister reverted a 4-4-2 formation, and it was a lively start with both sides winning early corners.

But it was Dave Lucas who was called into action first on 10 minutes when he pulled off a good save to deny Liam Davis with a well struck shot from outside of the box.

Moments later, United were ahead though. Lubo Michalik sent the ball forward, Prutton helped it on its way, and Jermaine Beckford showed good control before firing the ball past Frank Fielding.

The goal gave Leeds added confidence and with McAllister's men playing good attacking football, Beckford twice shot straight at Fielding as United pressed for a second. Debut man Christie also tried his luck with a low shot.

But Northampton should have done better in trhe 24th minute when Andy Holt smashed a shot wide from close range. Luke Gutteridge also tried his luck from distance with an effort that just went over the top.

United's response was immediate, and it was soon 2-0. Jonny Howson and Christie played a neat one-two on the edge of the box, before Howson's shot took a wicked deflection off Northampton's Mark Hughes, wrong-footing goalkeeper Fielding to leave him with no chance.

The hosts did fashion out another chance on 37 minutes when Scott McGleish headed wide from close range after a Danny Jackman cross. Lucas also pulled off a good save after a Jackman free-kick took a deflection off Neil Kilkenny.

While Lucas was looking sharp when tested, Northampton goalkeeper Fielding was looking for a hole in the ground to swallow him up after United went 3-0 up in the 41st minute.

Ben Parker unleashed a good strike from distance and Fielding, who once played on trial for United's reserves, mis-judged the bounce to hand the Leeds youngster his first ever goal in senior football.

The tie looked all but over, but Northampton did get themselves a foothold before the break when Jason Crowe pulled a goal back with a firm header from a corner.

But there was still time for United to add another during a crazy first half. Beckford bagged his second of the night in stoppage time with a terrific strike after cutting in from the left.

United also started the second half brightly with both Christie and Beckford combining well to prove an early threat.

And it was Beckford who put the game beyond any doubt when he completed his second hat-trick of the season. Kilkenny was the provider with a superb defence splitting pass, and Beckford seized to convert with aplomb.

As the game ticked past the hour-mark it was already drifting towards its inevitable conclusion with United, on the verge of confirming the formalities of a first win in the FA Cup since 2003, set for a second round trip to Histon on Sunday November 30.

Northampton did have an opportunity on 67 minutes, though, and Leon Constantine was denied by Lucas after United lost possession at the back. McGleish also fired wide after a Northampton corner.

The United boss may also have been fancying a couple more goals and on 70 minutes he replaced Beckford and Christie with Becchio and Enoch Showunmi.

And with 14 minutes remaining, McAllister handed out a second debut of the night when teenage defender Jonny Webb was introduced in place of Paul Telfer.

The game did threaten more goals, and Lubo Michalik made a good clearance to deny the home side before Ryan Gilligan lifted a shot from distance over the bar.

At the other end, Kilkenny had a free-kick deflected wide on 85 minutes. Webb also headed a corner over the top.

But it was the home side who did score a second goal when Crowe headed home a corner in the final minute of the game.

That was the last real drama of the game as United eased towards a comfortable victory.