Becchio brace not enough to win it for Leeds

A Luciano Becchio double wasn`t enough to earn Leeds all three points after Anthony Sweeney equalised deep into injury time for Hartlepool.

Leeds made three changes from the side that went out of the FA Cup in midweek. Lowry, McSheffrey and Gradel came in for Hughes, Snodgrass and Johnson.

Howson had Leeds first chance but his shot went wide of the goal.

Leeds went even closer soon afterwards when Luciano Becchio hit the bar from a Bromby long throw.

Hartlepool had to wait until halfway through the half when Adam Boyd shot over when in a good position.

Leeds took the lead soon afterwards when a great cross from Beckford found the head of Becchio and he made no mistake this time.

Howson was testing the keeper soon afterwards once again, but his long range effort was saved by Flinders.

Becchio almost doubled the lead on the stroke of half time but Flinders for the second time in the afternoon tipped his header onto the cross bar.

Leeds made a change at half time with Robert Snodgrass replacing Jermaine Beckford.

Gradel had a very early chance at the start of the second half but his shot went just wide of the post.

In a quiet start to the second half we had to wait until the hour mark for the next chance, Michalik heading wide from a McSheffrey cross.

Jones was introduced for Hartlepool and he came close when his shot went just wide of the post.

Boyd went close soon afterwards but Ankergren excellently saved his shot.

Hartlepool were enjoying a good five minutes and Jones went close again with his shot deflected wide for their third corner in quick succession.

The home side equalised with twenty minutes remaining when Adam Boyd`s left foot shot gave Ankergren no chance.

Hartlepool had been a different side since the introduction of Jones and Monkhouse was next to go close for the home side when his shot hit the post.

McSheffrey went close with a rare Leeds attack, his shot was tipped over the bar by Flinders.

Leeds went back in front from the corner when Becchio was first to react after a shot came back off the post, it was the first time that Becchio had ever scored more than one goal in a game for Leeds.

Boyd had a good chance to equalise in the last minute of normal time but his header was straight at Ankergren.

Hartlepool equalised with almost the last kick off the game when Sweeney got on the end of a Boyd cross.

With other results going Leeds way they will definitely see it as two points dropped.


Teams

Hartlepool
Flinders, Austin, Collins, Hartley, Monkhouse, Sweeney, Liddle, Humphreys, Gamble, Boyd, Larkin

Subs
Cook, Clark, McSweeney, Jones, Behan, Fredriksen, Bjornsson

Leeds
Ankergren, Bromby, Naylor, Michalik, Lowry, Gradel, Doyle, Howson, McSheffrey, Becchio, Beckford

Subs
D. Martin, Crowe, Grella, Johnson, Hughes, Snodgrass, White

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