HARROGATE TOWN: WHITES BEGIN WITH WIN

HARROGATE TOWN: WHITES BEGIN WITH WIN

Leeds hit four at Thorp Arch.

Leeds United 4 (Roofe pen 16, Gomes 33, Hernandez 50, Erwin 87) Harrogate Town 2 (Thewliss 75, Pollock 83)

Thomas Christiansen’s first game in charge of Leeds United ended in victory as the Whites recorded a 4-2 victory over Harrogate Town at Thorp Arch.

Both Leeds and Harrogate fielded a team in each half, it was the visitors who had the first chance, Joe Leesley saw his 25 yard free-kick go just wide.

United almost broke the deadlock inside five minutes, Tyler Denton played a low cross into the box, which deflected into the path of Marcus Antonsson whose header was denied by the crossbar.

Souleymane Doukara was next to go close, he drove forwards, before firing an effort from range, but he was denied by James Belshaw.

Leeds were awarded a penalty in the 16th minute, with Doukara driving into the box, Ben O’Hanlon slid in and handled and Kemar Roofe made no mistake from the spot-kick.

The Whites almost doubled that lead five minutes later, Liam Bridcutt played a fine through ball to send Antonsson away, but he was denied by a super save.

Goal-scorer Roofe then turned provider from a set-piece, whipping in a cross, but Paudie O’Connor could only head over the crossbar.

New signing Mateusz Klich was next to go close from a free-kick, he forced Belshaw into another good save from 25 yards.

Roofe had a great chance to score his second after being played in on goal by Doukara, but his effort deflected just inches wide.

The Whites doubled their lead through youngster Madger Gomes, who recently joined the club from Liverpool, he superbly found the bottom left corner, latching on to a low cross in the penalty area.

Bridcutt came closest to adding a third from range, but he couldn’t get the better of Belshaw as Leeds took a solid lead into the break.

Half Time: Leeds United 2-0 Harrogate Town

Leeds made a fine start to the second period, Luke Ayling crossed and found Stuart Dallas who teed up Pablo Hernandez to strike and score to put United further ahead.

Hadi Sacko had a brilliant chance just before the hour mark, he was played through on goal from the halfway line and dribbled forwards, but he was unable to finish the opportunity.

Jordan Thewliss came close to pulling a goal back for the visitors soon after, his long range effort went just wide of debutant Felix Wiedwald’s post.

Hernandez almost got his second of the game in the 65th minute, Gaetano Berardi whipped in a cross and the Spaniard saw his header at the back post well saved.

Stuart Dallas and Kalvin Phillips tried to add to the Whites tally from distance, but neither could, with Dallas forcing a good save and Phillips firing just wide.

With 15 minutes to go, Thewliss pulled a goal back for Harrogate, after stealing possession from a loose pass, he went through and found the back of the net.

Four minutes later Giuseppe Bellusci almost scored United’s fourth of the afternoon with a spectacular lobbed effort from his own half, which was only denied by a fine save.

However the visitors continued to push and scored their second of the game, with Ben Pollock heading home a neat cross.

With three minutes remaining though, Lee Erwin made sure of the victory, poking home from close range, to ensure Christiansen’s reign got underway with a win.

Full Time: Leeds United 4-2 Harrogate Town

 

Leeds first half: Green, Denton, Cooper, Diagouraga, O'Connor, Gomes, Bridcutt, Klich, Roofe, Doukara, Antonsson.

Leeds second half: Wiedwald, Berardi, P. McKay, Bellusci, Ayling, Dallas, Phillips, Vieira, Sacko, Hernandez, Erwin.

Harrogate first half: Belshaw, Fallowfield, Middleton, Lees, O'Hanlon, Thomson, Falkingham, Agnew, Leesley, McIntosh, Knowles.

Harrogate second half: Hallwood, Gooda, Kennedy, Pollock, Parker, Day, Burrell, Emmett, Trialist, Ainge, Thewliss.

Venue: Thorp Arch

 

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