LATE GOALS SECURE UNITED WIN

LATE GOALS SECURE UNITED WIN

Jason Pearce and Matt Smith goals secure win...

GUISELEY 0, UNITED 2 (Pearce 86, Smith 90).

Guiseley: Drench, Holdsworth, Parker, Lowe, Hall, Lawlor, Brooksby, Stockdill, Boyes, Forrest, Rothery.

United:
First 60 minutes:
Silvestri, Thompson, Lees, Killock, C Taylor, Cook, Tonge, Bianchi, Norris, Morison, Doukara.

Last 30 minutes: S Taylor, Byram, Wootton, Pearce, Warnock, Austin, Murphy, White, Hunt, Walters, Smith.

Referee: Adrian Holmes

Att: 2,200 (Sell Out)

United made the short journey to Conference North side Guiseley for their first friendly on English soil. United head coach David Hockaday opted to play two Leeds XIs for the match, with the first playing 60 minutes and the second completing the final half hour.

There were starts for new signings Marco Silvestri, Souleymane Doukara and Tommaso Bianchi along with United youngster Lewis Cook in the centre of midfield. There was a return to action for Scott Wootton in the second eleven and United’s first signing of the summer Stuart Taylor was between the posts.

United started the game well and dictated the pace and tempo of the match. The first chance of the afternoon fell to United’s loan signing Doukara, the forward used his strength to create the opening but his shot went wide of the mark.

Just minutes later the striker was in the thick of the action again but Charlie Taylor’s cross was cut-out superbly before the ball could reach Doukara.

United continued to dominate and on 13 minutes Steve Morison went close to opening the scoring when he sent a header just wide of the right-hand post.

The chances kept coming United’s way and Bianchi went close when his curling effort from outside the box was palmed wide by Steve Drench in the Guiseley goal.

Throughout the first half United youngster Lewis Cook showed his qualities that helped England’s Under-17s win the European Championship in the summer, when his quick feet opened up an opportunity for him. Unfortunately his strike from distance went just over the bar.

With 10 minutes of the first half remaining the best chance fell to Michael Tonge following a scramble in the Guiseley penalty area. The ball fell to Tonge but his shot went inches over the bar.

The home side threatened twice during the first half and both times through Danny Forrest. The striker went close with a shot that went just over the bar and a great tackle from Zac Thompson thwarted him just before the break.

The home side began the second half well and went close to opening the scoring when Jake Lawlor sent a shot just wide of the upright.

Prior to David Hockaday making the changes on the hour mark Doukara threatened once again but his shot was charged down well and blocked.

United’s second XI of the afternoon were rarely threatened throughout but Forrest did send a shot just wide after the hour.

Matt Smith and Lewis Walters were United’s strike partnership for the final 30 minutes and both went close during the final quarter of the game. Walters turned and shot for goal but his strike went just wide of the mark. Smith used his strength to create the space but his shot was saved well by Drench.

United piled on the pressure during the final minutes and with just four minutes of the match remaining Jason Pearce headed home an Aidy White corner to give his side the lead.

And in the final minute of the game Smith turned a Sam Byram cross passed Drench to give United the friendly victory by two goals.

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