Whites March to Summit as incredible winning home run continues…
Leeds United 4-1 Gillingham (Third Division / League One)
Higgs – Crowe (Kilkenny), Kisnorbo, Bromby, Hughes – Snodgrass (Michalik), Howson (c) Doyle, Johnson – Becchio (Grella), Beckford. Unused Subs:- Ankergren, Prutton, Robinson.
Goals:- (LUFC) Johnson (14, 26), Howson (46), Beckford (80) – (Gills) Barcham (50)
Att:- 21,026
Leeds United’s tag as pre-season favourites for promotion is beginning to bare fruition as they put Gillingham to the sword to record yet another home victory, making it 15 league home victories in a row and unbeaten since January in all competitions at home.
As seems to be their custom now, Leeds once more started with the ferocity of a TGV, determined to pulverise their opponents before they could entrench themselves around their penalty area.
It took less than a quarter hour for Leeds to take the lead, a corner from Robert Snodgrass was met my a meaty Bradley Johnson header which arrowed into the top right corner of the Gills net (14).
Johnson, who scored a cracker of a goal the last time these two met in May 2008 seems to enjoy playing against Gillingham, and scored a second goal in the 26th minute when he hared down the left flank, cut inside and from an acute angle rifled the ball through the legs of Simon Royce and into the net.
Leeds largely controlled the game but Gillingham almost found a way back in to the match when former Leeds player Curtis Weston’s cross-cum-shot evaded both the on-rushing Simeon Jackson and the far post.
The start of the second half saw two goals in five minutes, but that told only part of the story.
At the start of the second half Jonny Howson trebled the lead for Leeds when he set himself up for a half-volley which he fired past Royce with aplomb from a Snodgrass pass (46), almost directly from the restart Beckford cracked the cross bar with an innovative effort and moments later Becchio headed wide form eight yards following a Johnson cross.
The next goal did come, but it arrived from a rasping strike via Gillingham’s Andy Barcham, who was able to turn and pull a goal back after Leeds could only half-clear (50).
The goal seemed to move momentum towards the Gills and they gradually grew more confident, matching their willingness to attack with their willingness to assault Leeds players, leading to Snodgrass, Beckford and Grella all feeling aggrieved when they were elbowed in feisty challenges but receiving scant help or protection from the officials.
Although Jackson headed over from in the six-yard box after good play down the Gills’ left, Leeds rarely looked threatened and cemented their victory with ten minutes to go when Beckford had an open goal in which to head in a rebound from a deflected Doyle shot which hit the bar, with ‘keeper Royce lying in the back of his net having been unable to flick the original shot over (80).
From then on it was a procession but the biggest cheer was reserved for the news filtering through from Norwich, confirming that Leeds would be the first outright leaders of the league this season.
Man Of The Match:- A toss up between Johnson and Howson. Johnson has improved leaps and bounds and looks like he knows what his role is at the club, whilst Howson was immense, with his all round game securing the goal it deserved.
