Guardian 9/8/08
Late Beckford strike earns points for Leeds
Benjie Goodhart
Leeds United justified their status as League One favourites with a hard-fought 2-1 win at Glanford
Park in the Football League's first game of the season. But Gary McAllister's men had to come from behind, securing victory late on thanks to Jermaine Beckford's 80th-minute winner.
Both sides thought they'd secured the honour of scoring the opening goal of the Football League season in a first half that was officially goalless, but short of neither incident nor controversy. Scunthorpe fans were celebrating after 28 minutes when captain Izzy Iriekpen headed home a Grant McCann free-kick, only for the goal to be ruled offside.
It was Leeds, though, who were left fuming at half-time, after Scunthorpe keeper Josh Lillis appeared to fumble Robert Snodgrass's shot over the line. The assistant referee declined to award the goal, to the ill-disguised fury of the Leeds players.
The afternoon got worse for them after half-time, when Scunthorpe took the lead in the 57th minute. Gary Hooper latched on to a Paul Hayes flick and, showing composure from 12 yards, finished neatly beyond Casper Ankegren in the Leeds goal.
The lead only lasted four minutes, however, as Leeds debutants Snodgrass and Enoch Showumni combined to fashion an equaliser. Snodgrass's free-kick from the right saw Showumni first to the ball, heading past the despairing Lillis.With 10 minutes to go, Leeds took a short corner, and played the ball to David Prutton, whose venomous strike from distance rattled the bar. Scunthorpe's escape was only momentary, as Beckford popped up to slot home the rebound and send the Leeds faithful home in good spirits.
Late Beckford strike earns points for Leeds
Benjie Goodhart
Leeds United justified their status as League One favourites with a hard-fought 2-1 win at Glanford
Park in the Football League's first game of the season. But Gary McAllister's men had to come from behind, securing victory late on thanks to Jermaine Beckford's 80th-minute winner.Both sides thought they'd secured the honour of scoring the opening goal of the Football League season in a first half that was officially goalless, but short of neither incident nor controversy. Scunthorpe fans were celebrating after 28 minutes when captain Izzy Iriekpen headed home a Grant McCann free-kick, only for the goal to be ruled offside.
It was Leeds, though, who were left fuming at half-time, after Scunthorpe keeper Josh Lillis appeared to fumble Robert Snodgrass's shot over the line. The assistant referee declined to award the goal, to the ill-disguised fury of the Leeds players.
The afternoon got worse for them after half-time, when Scunthorpe took the lead in the 57th minute. Gary Hooper latched on to a Paul Hayes flick and, showing composure from 12 yards, finished neatly beyond Casper Ankegren in the Leeds goal.
The lead only lasted four minutes, however, as Leeds debutants Snodgrass and Enoch Showumni combined to fashion an equaliser. Snodgrass's free-kick from the right saw Showumni first to the ball, heading past the despairing Lillis.With 10 minutes to go, Leeds took a short corner, and played the ball to David Prutton, whose venomous strike from distance rattled the bar. Scunthorpe's escape was only momentary, as Beckford popped up to slot home the rebound and send the Leeds faithful home in good spirits.