Leedsunited.com 15/12/09
GRAYSON'S MEN BOOK AREA FINAL BERTH
LEEDS 2 (Ephraim 9, Kilkenny 50), ACCRINGTON STANLEY 0
United manager Simon Grayson again made a number of changes as his side played their sixth game in the space of 15 days.
Loan goalkeeper David Martin was handed a debut while Richard Naylor returned from injury. There were also starting places for Rob Snodgrass, after suspension, David Prutton, Hogan Ephraim, Tresor Kandol, and Mike Grella.
Accrington arrived on the back of a great away run that included victories over a number of the League Two promotion contenders, and it was the visitors who started brightly at Elland Road, winning their first corner inside the opening 60 seconds.
But it was Leeds who were in front inside nine minutes, courtesy of Ephraim's first goal for the club. Prutton and Grella played a neat one-two before Ephraim's strike took a deflection of Phil Edwards to wrong-foot Accrington goalkeeper Dean Bouzanis.
The goal was the brightest moment of a dull opening 20 minutes or so. A larger than expected crowd had turned out, but there was little in the way of entertainment to warm the throng after Ephraim's early goal.
United did have another opportunity on the half-hour when Ephraim fed Kandol, but Bouzanis blocked the striker's shot with his legs to deflect it for a corner.
Accrington had an opportunity themselves on 39 minutes after some good defending forced a corner. It was Michael Symes who was presented with a free header from the resultant corner, but Martin was able to gather comfortably.
In reply, Snodgrass fired wide for Leeds while Andrew Proctor lifted a shot over the top for Accrington, but there were no further chances before the half-time whistle.
It was United who started the second half on the front foot, Jason Crowe sending a shot fizzing over the top, but a second goal swiftly followed. Ephraim delivered a cross the from right and Neil Kilkenny planted a diving header into the far corner to double the advantage.
Symes did have another half-chance for the visitors when he screwed a shot wide, but it was Kandol who went close again for Leeds when he headed a Crowe cross over the bar shortly before the hour.
With the game looking settled, Grayson changed personnel for the final 29 minutes, Max Gradel and Sam Vokes forming the strike partnership in place of Mike Grella and Kandol.
And Vokes almost made an immediate impact, but was denied by some quick thinking from Bouzanis.
Accrington also made a double substitution and both replacements came within a whisker of pulling a goal back. First, John Miles hit the post and moments later Sean McConville wasted a great chance when one-on-one with Martin.
The visitors also rattled the inside of the post with Martin well-beaten and as Miles went to stab at the rebound, Naylor got his body in the way on the line to force a corner.
On 78 minutes, it was United who forced a corner when Bouzanis pushed a Gradel shot over the bar, but Accrington contrived to waste another good chance shortly after when Miles scooped a shot over the bar as Martin was grounded after making an initial save.
But that proved to be the final moment of any note as the game headed towards its inevitable conclusion with Leeds progressing through to a two-legged Area Final meeting with Carlisle United.
GRAYSON'S MEN BOOK AREA FINAL BERTH
LEEDS 2 (Ephraim 9, Kilkenny 50), ACCRINGTON STANLEY 0
United manager Simon Grayson again made a number of changes as his side played their sixth game in the space of 15 days.
Loan goalkeeper David Martin was handed a debut while Richard Naylor returned from injury. There were also starting places for Rob Snodgrass, after suspension, David Prutton, Hogan Ephraim, Tresor Kandol, and Mike Grella.
Accrington arrived on the back of a great away run that included victories over a number of the League Two promotion contenders, and it was the visitors who started brightly at Elland Road, winning their first corner inside the opening 60 seconds.
But it was Leeds who were in front inside nine minutes, courtesy of Ephraim's first goal for the club. Prutton and Grella played a neat one-two before Ephraim's strike took a deflection of Phil Edwards to wrong-foot Accrington goalkeeper Dean Bouzanis.
The goal was the brightest moment of a dull opening 20 minutes or so. A larger than expected crowd had turned out, but there was little in the way of entertainment to warm the throng after Ephraim's early goal.
United did have another opportunity on the half-hour when Ephraim fed Kandol, but Bouzanis blocked the striker's shot with his legs to deflect it for a corner.
Accrington had an opportunity themselves on 39 minutes after some good defending forced a corner. It was Michael Symes who was presented with a free header from the resultant corner, but Martin was able to gather comfortably.
In reply, Snodgrass fired wide for Leeds while Andrew Proctor lifted a shot over the top for Accrington, but there were no further chances before the half-time whistle.
It was United who started the second half on the front foot, Jason Crowe sending a shot fizzing over the top, but a second goal swiftly followed. Ephraim delivered a cross the from right and Neil Kilkenny planted a diving header into the far corner to double the advantage.
Symes did have another half-chance for the visitors when he screwed a shot wide, but it was Kandol who went close again for Leeds when he headed a Crowe cross over the bar shortly before the hour.
With the game looking settled, Grayson changed personnel for the final 29 minutes, Max Gradel and Sam Vokes forming the strike partnership in place of Mike Grella and Kandol.
And Vokes almost made an immediate impact, but was denied by some quick thinking from Bouzanis.
Accrington also made a double substitution and both replacements came within a whisker of pulling a goal back. First, John Miles hit the post and moments later Sean McConville wasted a great chance when one-on-one with Martin.
The visitors also rattled the inside of the post with Martin well-beaten and as Miles went to stab at the rebound, Naylor got his body in the way on the line to force a corner.
On 78 minutes, it was United who forced a corner when Bouzanis pushed a Gradel shot over the bar, but Accrington contrived to waste another good chance shortly after when Miles scooped a shot over the bar as Martin was grounded after making an initial save.
But that proved to be the final moment of any note as the game headed towards its inevitable conclusion with Leeds progressing through to a two-legged Area Final meeting with Carlisle United.