UNITED KICK-OFF WITH FIVE AT FARSLEY
FARSLEY 2 (Muller 60, Watson 68), UNITED 5 (Gray 31, 35, Rogers 36, Paynter 64, Payne 89)
Farsley: Guildford, Hay, Serrant, Briggs, Jackson, Radcliffe, Watson, Bambrook, Jones, Grant, Priestly. Subs: Muller, Carr, Pacey, Burgess, Dugdale, Ferdinand, Flowers.
Leeds: Kenny, Lees, Crainie, Pearce, Pugh, Brown, Green, Rogers, McCormack, White, Gray.
Leeds: (2nd half) Cairns, L Turner, Killock, Gimpel, Taylor, Byram, Thompson, Lenighan (Poleon), Payne, Nunez, Paynter
Leeds United opened up the pre-season campaign with two trialists in a senior starting line-up at Farsley. Former Portsmouth defender Martin Crainie and ex-Leeds youngster Andy Gray were both included in a side that also included debut men Paddy Kenny and Paul Green.
Manager Neil Warnock had stated his intentions to play two different teams in each half, and he was also quick to point out that after a heavy morning on the training ground, he was treating the match as a fitness exercise first and foremost.
As it was the opening 10 minutes or so saw United play some decent football, knocking the ball around well as the players looked to get the feel of a return to action after the summer break. Gray caused an early problem, Ross McCormack had a free-kick blocked, and Green looked to get his head on the end of an early corner.
United were firmly in control of the contest by the midway stage, having kept the ball for long periods, creating numerous half-chances. Robbie Rogers and Gray both had headed attempts, Danny Pugh screwed a shot wide, and Rogers had another attempt which was marginally off target.
The pace of Aidy White was also a major threat while Lees advanced well from the right back role and delivered some telling first half crosses. Farsley couldn't get out of their own half and a goal seemed only a matter of time.
McCormack sent a shot fizzing narrowly wide after Gray flicked on a long ball, but the opener came moments later when Gray converted after a good ball through to mark his return to the club as a trialist with a "second debut"goal.
Moments later, White again stormed forward and on this occasion he was denied with a low, skidding effort by Farsley keeper Tom Guildford who parried the shot.
But it was 2-0 10 minutes before the break when Gray got up well at the far post to head home a cross for his second goal of the night, and a third followed moments later when Rogers got up well to plant a Michael Brown cross past Guildford and into the goal.
And that proved to be the last meaningful action of a half that had seen United ease back into the scheme of things by playing some decent football to build a commanding a lead.
As expected the manager made wholesale changes at half-time with a largely youthful team including the experience of Billy Paynter and Ramon Nunez. The flow of the game was the same, though, and Nunez was denied twice, Paynter went close a couple of times, and both Sanchez Payne and Simon Lenighan tried their luck.
But, while Kenny didn't have a save to make on his debut, his deputy Alex Cairns was called upon to make a smart stop before the hour mark, and he could do little as Farsley pulled a goal back, courtesy of an Adam Muller effort from out wide which was deflected past the United goalkeeper.
The three-goal advantage was restored within minutes, though, when Paynter scored with a good header after a Nunez cross.
But Farsley pulled another back with around 20 minutes remaining when Ryan Watson scored with a terrific strike from outside of the box.
That really was the cue for the game to head towards what will be a familar conclusion over the next weeks with the contest becoming bitty and disjointed due to the number of changes, and with little meaningful action taking place.
There was still time for a fantastic fifth goal for Leeds, though, when Sanchez Payne scored an absolute screamer from outside of the box to wrap up a comfortable victory to kick off pre-season.