BRISTOL ROVERS 0, UNITED 3 (Beckford 9, Kandol 77, Beckford 90)

Bristol Rovers: Phillips, Ryan Green (Jacobson 79), Elliott, Anthony, Carruthers, Igoe (Pipe 76), Campbell, Disley, Haldane, Williams (Walker 69), Lambert. Subs: Hinton, Rigg.

United: Ankergren, Richardson (Huntington 90), Heath, Marques, Clapham, Prutton, Hughes, Douglas, Carole (Westlake 79), Kandol, Beckford. Subs: Lucas, Howson, Flo.

Referee: K Stroud

Booked: Douglas (United)

Att: 11,883 (1195 Leeds)

You can follow the match on LUTV with live commentary...

United boss Dennis Wise welcomed Jonathan Douglas back from international duty, but Alan Thompson failed to win his race to be fit and missed out on the sell-out clash.

The hosts had the backing of their biggest ever crowd, but it was United who threatened first. Rovers goalkeeper Steve Phillips beat away a shot from Jermaine Beckford after a long ball out of defence from Seb Carole, and Tresor Kandol, following up, saw his shot cleared off the line.

And United were soon ahead in the game. Carole again found Beckford, this time from a Jamie Clapham throw-in, and the striker showed all his quality by delivering a superb finish to leave Phillips with no chance.

David Prutton also had a shot deflected wide after working himself a good opening on the edge of the box, while at the other end Byron Anthony headed wide after Rovers won a couple of corners.

The hosts worked hard to put Leeds under some pressure after the early goal, but United got men behind the ball, scrapped it out, and looked content to hit the home side on the break.

That said, Rovers did look a threat and Craig Disley wasted a great opportunity to level after 25 minutes when he headed a Ryan Green corner wide of the mark.

There was a moment of fortune for United on 35 minutes when Andrew Hughes, under-pressure in front of his own goal, rattled a clearance against Rickie Lambert, who could do little but watch the ball loop up and over the bar.

The last action of the half saw Kandol head wide at the far post, following a corner.

The home side again started the second period at a frenetic pace and, after Douglas made one timely clearance, Casper Ankergren showed good command of his area to collect a cross when under pressure. And, when Disley beat the offside trap on 55 minutes, no one was on hand to convert his low cross in front of goal.

United's first sight on goal in the second period came when Carole worked an opening on 59 minutes and screwed a shot wide from the edge of the box.

Moments later, the Rovers defence had to scramble the ball clear when Douglas found himself bearing down on goal, and centre-back Matt Heath, who had been magnificent at the back, headed wide from a corner.

Beckford also tested home goalkeeper Phillips with a low shot, following good work by Frazer Richardson.

United always looked capable of adding a second goal , particularly as the hosts seemed to tire quickly, and the decisive strike came 13 minutes from time when a Prutton cross was cleared as far as Kandol, and the striker made no mistake from close range.

Bristol Rovers did mount one last rally, Ankergren making a full-stretch save to deny Lewis Haldane, and Clapham also making a crucial clearance as United looked to preserve the two-goal lead.

The best was yet to come though.

As the game entered the second minute of stoppage time, Kandol chipped the ball to Beckford just inside the Rovers box with his back to goal.

It looked like no real threat, but the striker simply waited for the ball to drop and delivered an overhead kick which left Phillips with no chance. 

It was a special finish to another special night as, with six straight wins, United moved off the bottom of League One for the first time.