Man United provide tasty cup carrot for Leeds (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)

Man United provide tasty cup carrot for Leeds

7:36pm Sunday 29th November 2009

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Kettering 1 Leeds 1

There could be no greater incentive for Leeds United and hard-up Kettering Town in their second-round replay at Elland Road on Tuesday, December 8 than a trip to Manchester United in the next round.

That is the bumper prize awaiting the eventual winners after todday’s third-round draw.

Leeds manager Simon Grayson said: “It is a fantastic incentive for ourselves or Kettering to win through.

“We have a couple of important league games to deal with first (against Oldham on Tuesday and Huddersfield on Saturday), then we will prepare in a professional manner for the replay against Kettering and hopefully win through to meet United.”

Kettering player-manager Lee Harper said: “It is going to be extremely difficult to go to Elland Road and get a result because Leeds are a fantastic team, but we will give it our best shot and you never know what might happen.”

Jermaine Beckford’s habit of scoring vital goals rescued Leeds from a second successive FA Cup second-round humiliation today.

Kettering seemed destined to follow in the footsteps of fellow Blue Square Premier League side Histon, conquerors of Leeds at the same stage of the competition last year, when Ian Roper headed the Rockingham Roaders into a shock 63rd-minute lead. But Beckford’s close-in volley 14 minutes later earned his side a reprieve.

Northern Ireland international Tony Capaldi, on loan from Cardiff City, made an impressive debut for Leeds in place of the injured Andrew Hughes at left back, Jason Crowe returned from injury at right back, Lee Bromby moved into central defence in place of Patrick Kisnorbo and Mike Grella came into the attack for Sam Vokes.

Kettering, fourth in the Blue Square Premier, included debutants Sol Davis and Ritchie Partridge, on loan from MK Dons, and Partridge floated a shot just wide of the far post in the 14th minute, after a breakaway from his own half by Moses Ashikodi.

However, as Leeds started to exert their authority, it needed John Dempster’s goal-line clearance to keep out a downward header by Robert Snodgrass from Beckford’s chip.

Grella’s superb pass almost set up a goal on 26 minutes. Beckford rattled the bar from Grella’s pass and Snodgrass hammered the rebound against the left post.

Kettering’s big moment arrived in the 63rd minute when Leeds defender Lubo Michalik and keeper Casper Ankergren failed to reach Partridge’s free-kick from and Roper powered a header into the net from just outside the six-yard box.

With 72 minutes gone, Leeds replaced the hard working Grella with Luciano Becchio, who had missed the last nine matches through injury, and Harper had to make desperate saves from headers by Crowe and Micky Doyle.

Much to their fans’ relief, Leeds were eventually rewarded with the 77th-minute equaliser. Jonny Howson played the ball out to Snodgrass, who returned it into the goalmouth at speed for Beckford to neatly volley his 14th goal of the season.

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