Post by Taxigirl on Jul 22, 2005 8:52:02 GMT
www.leedsunited.com
A goal in each half from Michael Ricketts ensured a Leeds XI recorded a comfortable 2-0 win at Halifax Town.
The much-maligned striker had put in a bright performance, showing some good play at times with a few good touches and flicks, in what was generally a decent performance from a mid-strength United side.
The performance of left-back Dan Harding will have helped his challenge for a regular first team place, Matthew Kilgallon never put a foot wrong and Danny Pugh was lively, but otherwise the rest appear destined to be squad players.
Leeds were put under a some early pressure, largely due to their own wayward passing with the defence the main culprits.
United's first real shot came from Michael Ricketts and it was high and wide, as was Simon Walton's that followed five minutes later.
Leeds took control of the game after ten minutes, beginning to maintain possession and forced Halifax into conceding a succession of corners.
One of the best early chances saw Ricketts play Gavin Rothery in for a shot and the youngster was unfortunate as he just clipped it over the bar.
The Shaymen did little to trouble Mark Wilberforce in the United goal but they came close when Greg Young headed Martin Foster's cross inches over the crossbar.
The opening goal came after 25 minutes and opinion is divided as to whether Dan Harding's ball forward to set it up was a hopeful punt or an expertly placed throughball.
Regardless, it was the United new boy who played it up to Ricketts and a timely bounce took it past defender Adam Quinn and Ricketts just poked it past Halifax keeper Lee Butler before he was closed down.
After Simon Walton was brought down for a free-kick on the edge of the area, Matthew Spring floated in the free kick where it was met with a downwards header by Einarsson and it would have been tucked into the net by Carlisle for 2-0 had Quinn not made a last second interception.
Ten minutes before the break Rothery skipped past two and hit a low drive from 20-yards that the keeper just did enough to hang onto.
Leeds were unchanged after the break and had their bright patches, Ricketts kept coming up with a few good touches and flicks and generally the attitude from the Whites was right as they showed they were up for it.
Both sides certainly looked up for a scrap when Matthew Spring put in a mistimed tackle to spark a melee. Simon Walton and Town's Darren Mansaram were most involved and the pair were booked for their actions. Had it not been a friendly, a red card could have been shown to either.
Craig Midgley was the dangerman for Halifax as far as Leeds were concerned, first he had a shot saved by Wilberforce and then the tricky midfielder nearly crept through for a clear shot on goal but Kilgallon just took the ball off his toes in the nick of time.
Just after the hour mark Leeds made it 2-0, thanks largely to the persistence of Rothery. The teenager forced his way through as he chased a chip forward and saw his shot closed down by the keeper, but it fell nicely for Ricketts who had only to ensure he kept the ball on target as he fired into an empty net for his second goal.
Ricketts had a chance for his hat-trick when Gray fed him on the edge of the area, but he couldn't get his shot away in time and Halifax blocked well. A moment later and a mis-kick from the keeper presented him with another chance, this time he put it high and wide.
Halifax: Butler, Hockenhull (Blunt 52), Doughty, Atherton, Quinn (Haslam 52), Young, Midgley, Brabin, Mansaram (Grant 52), Sugden, Foster.
United: Wilberforce, Richardson, Harding (Parker 71), Walton (Gray 62), Carlisle, Kigallon, Spring, Rothery (Smith 62), Ricketts (Morris 85), Einarsson, Pugh. Subs not used: McKeown.
Attendance: 1,424
A goal in each half from Michael Ricketts ensured a Leeds XI recorded a comfortable 2-0 win at Halifax Town.
The much-maligned striker had put in a bright performance, showing some good play at times with a few good touches and flicks, in what was generally a decent performance from a mid-strength United side.
The performance of left-back Dan Harding will have helped his challenge for a regular first team place, Matthew Kilgallon never put a foot wrong and Danny Pugh was lively, but otherwise the rest appear destined to be squad players.
Leeds were put under a some early pressure, largely due to their own wayward passing with the defence the main culprits.
United's first real shot came from Michael Ricketts and it was high and wide, as was Simon Walton's that followed five minutes later.
Leeds took control of the game after ten minutes, beginning to maintain possession and forced Halifax into conceding a succession of corners.
One of the best early chances saw Ricketts play Gavin Rothery in for a shot and the youngster was unfortunate as he just clipped it over the bar.
The Shaymen did little to trouble Mark Wilberforce in the United goal but they came close when Greg Young headed Martin Foster's cross inches over the crossbar.
The opening goal came after 25 minutes and opinion is divided as to whether Dan Harding's ball forward to set it up was a hopeful punt or an expertly placed throughball.
Regardless, it was the United new boy who played it up to Ricketts and a timely bounce took it past defender Adam Quinn and Ricketts just poked it past Halifax keeper Lee Butler before he was closed down.
After Simon Walton was brought down for a free-kick on the edge of the area, Matthew Spring floated in the free kick where it was met with a downwards header by Einarsson and it would have been tucked into the net by Carlisle for 2-0 had Quinn not made a last second interception.
Ten minutes before the break Rothery skipped past two and hit a low drive from 20-yards that the keeper just did enough to hang onto.
Leeds were unchanged after the break and had their bright patches, Ricketts kept coming up with a few good touches and flicks and generally the attitude from the Whites was right as they showed they were up for it.
Both sides certainly looked up for a scrap when Matthew Spring put in a mistimed tackle to spark a melee. Simon Walton and Town's Darren Mansaram were most involved and the pair were booked for their actions. Had it not been a friendly, a red card could have been shown to either.
Craig Midgley was the dangerman for Halifax as far as Leeds were concerned, first he had a shot saved by Wilberforce and then the tricky midfielder nearly crept through for a clear shot on goal but Kilgallon just took the ball off his toes in the nick of time.
Just after the hour mark Leeds made it 2-0, thanks largely to the persistence of Rothery. The teenager forced his way through as he chased a chip forward and saw his shot closed down by the keeper, but it fell nicely for Ricketts who had only to ensure he kept the ball on target as he fired into an empty net for his second goal.
Ricketts had a chance for his hat-trick when Gray fed him on the edge of the area, but he couldn't get his shot away in time and Halifax blocked well. A moment later and a mis-kick from the keeper presented him with another chance, this time he put it high and wide.
Halifax: Butler, Hockenhull (Blunt 52), Doughty, Atherton, Quinn (Haslam 52), Young, Midgley, Brabin, Mansaram (Grant 52), Sugden, Foster.
United: Wilberforce, Richardson, Harding (Parker 71), Walton (Gray 62), Carlisle, Kigallon, Spring, Rothery (Smith 62), Ricketts (Morris 85), Einarsson, Pugh. Subs not used: McKeown.
Attendance: 1,424