Howson brace lifts Leeds

Carlisle sunk 2-0 at home after last-gasp winner

Last updated: 15th May 2008   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Howson brace lifts Leeds

Howson: Last action hero

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A last-gasp Jonny Howson goal saw Leeds advance into the League One play-off final following a 2-0 victory over Carlisle at Brunton Park.

Gary McAllister's side were 2-1 down from Monday's first leg at Elland Road, but Howson opened the scoring in the 10th minute with an effort into the left corner from a Dougie Freedman cross.

Leeds then had numerous efforts to win the game, including a Bradley Johnson header against the post late on, while Carlisle also had their chances.

But Freedman and Howson again combined in the dying seconds to enable Leeds to deservedly win the game and break Carlisle hearts.

Leeds will now play Doncaster or Southend in the League One play-off final.

Howson's double completed a surprise turnaround for McAllister's men, who had been outplayed in the first leg.

Most in a crowd of 12,872 were expecting John Ward's Carlisle side, playing Conference football three years ago, to finish the job.

Balance

But Leeds now head back for their second play-off final in two years and a chance to erase the memory of their defeat to Watford at the Millennium Stadium in 2006.

The tie hung in the balance as referee Alan Wiley waved away Carlisle's early shouts for a penalty when Scott Dobie went tumbling in the penalty area after Carlisle's Grant Smith had misdirected a long-range shot.

But Leeds were on target at the end of their first attack to level the tie in the 10th minute.

Leeds-born Howson sent Freedman scampering down the left and raced into the area to latch on to the on-loan Crystal Palace striker's cross and fire home from close range.

A neat interchange between Neil Kilkenny and Jermaine Beckford saw the former's volley comfortably held by home goalkeeper Keiren Westwood.

In contrast to the meeting at Elland Road it was Leeds who had settled quickest into their stride.

Late drama

Evan Horwood almost gifted Leeds a second 10 minutes before the break when his weak back-pass was seized on by Freedman, but the forward's shot was snaffled by Westwood.

But right at the end of the first half, Marc Bridge-Wilkinson went close to firing the Cumbrians ahead on aggregate when his firm low drive was smothered by Casper Ankergren.

Bridge-Wilkinson gave the ball away shortly after the restart and Freedman pounced again to test Westwood from 25 yards.

Kilkenny then dragged a right-footed shot wide when teed up by Beckford, but for a 15-minute period in the second half neither side carved out an opening.

Bridge-Wilkinson dithered on the edge of the area when well-placed following Simon Hackney's cross and allowed Bradley Johnson to block his shot as the tension mounted.

Leeds then began to pen their hosts in for long periods. Westwood flung himself low to his right to turn away Freedman's 25-yard shot and Johnson's thumping header hit the outside of the post.

The visitors looked the more composed as full-time beckoned and Jonathan Douglas' deflected shot arced over the crossbar as the tie headed towards extra time.

Then with one minute of time added on, Howson snatched victory as the ball broke to the young midfielder on the edge of the area and the 19-year-old drilled a slightly scuffed effort into Westwood's bottom left-hand corner.