Leeds United 1, Carlisle United 2

May 13 2008 by Stuart Rayner, The Journal

UNGLAMOROUS little Carlisle United were meant to be cannon-fodder for Leeds United on their own patch but the Cumbrians did not get where they are today by respecting the reputations of League One’s big boys.

Where Carlisle are today is well placed to claim a play-off final place at Wembley if only they can keep their heads as effectively at Brunton Park on Thursday as they did at Elland Road last night.

But a Dougie Freedman goal in the sixth added minute means Carlisle’s fans cannot afford to show the expectancy Leeds’ supporters did in a pulsating night of play-off football.

With only 1,000 fans tucked away in the south-east corner of the former Champions League venue and a cacophony of noise around them, the odds were always firmly against Carlisle. But the support of 35,000 baying Yorkshiremen is only an advantage if you can keep it and John Ward’s side discovered how quickly those in the stands can turn.

Carlisle frustrated League One’s best-supported club then hit them twice on the counter-attack only to be stung themselves in the last throes.

Marching On Together is the Leeds anthem, but Leeds were anything but united when Marc Bridge-Wilkinson doubled the lead given his side by Simon Hackney.

Ward selected a cagey 4-1-4-1, dropping exciting youngster Gary Madine to the bench for Bridge-Wilkinson’s more measured approach, but if anything the wall of noise seemed to inspire the visitors.

Bridge-Wilkinson had the game’s first decent chance, volleying a cross wide from Danny Graham, a man who seems to enjoy having to roll up his sleeves.

It was difficult to control but the cultured midfielder was disappointed he failed to put it on target. Leeds goalkeeper Casper Ankergren gave encouragement to keep trying.

Although the Dane kept out Graham’s header when the striker got the better of ex-Newcastle United defender Paul Huntington in the air, the way he bundled the ball out was far from convincing. When he made a mess of collecting Hackney’s cross a few minutes later he was fortunate the referee spared him by ruling Graham had backed in.

Right-winger Hackney looked Carlisle’s most dangerous player in the first half and got his reward when a corner was half-cleared to him. Under little pressure he precisely despatched the high ball.

It was by no means one-way traffic, however, and Carlisle once again had Kieren Westwood to thank for the fact that Hackney’s 31st-minute goal was the game’s first. The Manchester City product made a brilliant stretching save from Freedman then denied him at his near post shortly before the interval. In between time he did well to tip a strike from former Carlisle loanee Jermaine Beckford around the post.

It was the 49th minute when Hackney expertly timed his pass to the overlapping Evan Horwood and Bridge-Wilkinson tapped in at the far post. Eery silence can rarely have sound so good to Cumbrian ears.

Quickly the Leeds fans turned – on the players, on the referee, on the decision to replace Beckford with former Darlington forward Tresor Kandol, on Carlisle’s time-wasting, on just about anything within sight of them.

Bridge-Wilkinson’s goal turned the game into one of defence v attack as Carlisle clung on. The ditties from the away end about going to Wembley seemed premature.

Danny Livesey, though, typified Carlisle’s spirit, greeting Kandol by throwing himself in the way of a shot. And when the defence was breached Westwood arched his back to tip over Jonathan Douglas’ header.

Substitute Seb Carole rocketed a shot over from outside the area but Leeds’ best opportunity was presented to them when Bridge-Wilkinson fouled Bradley Johnson just outside the area. Neil Kilkenny headed Johnson’s free-kick wide, prompting a series of corners.

It looked like the goal was never going to come until Freedman’s scrambled strike left the tie delicately poised.

LEEDS UNITED: Ankergren; Richardson, Huntington, Michalik, Johnson, Prutton (Carole 78), Douglas, Howson (Hughes 90), Kilkenny, Beckford (Kandol 58), Freedman. Subs (not used): Lucas, Marques.

Booked: Hughes.

Goal: Freedman 90.

CARLISLE UNITED: Westwood; Arnison, Livesey, Murphy, Horwood, Dobie, Lumsdon, Bridge-Wilkinson, Grant Smith (Thirlwell 79), Hackney (Taylor 69), Graham (Madine 90). Subs (not used): Howarth, Campion.

Booked: Dobie, Arnison.

Goals: Graham 32, Bridge-Wilkinson 50.

Attendance: 36,297.

Referee: Tony Bates (Staffordshire).