Leeds United progressed to the second round of the Carling Cup at the expense of Darlington. For Quakers however they can take plenty of heart from this display. Following the disappointment of the opening day defeat to Aldershot Colin Todd's men turned in a much improved performance. Darlington were in determined mood during this encounter and only a poachers effort from Enoch Showunmi separated the two sides at the end.
Despite Darlington's best efforts and a gutsy performance Leeds deserved to progress. Simon Grayson's side clicked up a couple of gears shortly after the break and secured the vital goal in a good twenty minute spell. Quakers though had a few chances of their own and on another night could well have earned extra time as Mark Bower headed the wrong side of the post during injury time.
Todd handed starts to Sunderland loan pairing Jamie Chandler and David Dowson. The young Black Cats striker was particularly impressive after coming on as a second half sub at the weekend. Here he was once was again full of running and energy. Meanwhile Dean Windass had to settle for a place on the bench.
Leeds, backed by a vocal travelling support, started brightly. Showunmi shot straight at David Knight inside the opening minutes as the away side looked to make their presence felt early on. Darlington had to defend stoutly as the visitors sought an opening goal. Chances were limited for Quakers but their hard work meant they were always in with a shout.
Leeds' best effort of the first half came on twenty-seven minutes. A fierce shot, which Knight did well to block, from Michael Doyle flew goalwards before Darlington managed to scramble the ball away from danger. It cued up a couple of good chances for the home side. Within a few minutes at the opposite end of the pitch Lee Thorpe headed over from a Chris Lumsdon free-kick before Quakers carved out their best opportunity of evening.
Thorpe burst clear of the Leeds defence and pulled the ball across the area looking for Chandler. His shot however was blocked by Jason Crowe as the visitors survived Darlington's best moment in the first half. Leeds regained the intuitive before the break but Quakers' performance, a million times better than their first half showing at Aldershot on Saturday, deserved to see them level at the break.
After the half time interval Leeds stepped up a gear and eventually found a way through. Twenty-two year old Mike Grella was at the centre of Leeds' decent early play. His neat flick and shot went wide minutes after the restart before his fancy step overs inside the box created a great chance. He found Bradley Johnson in space who smacked the crossbar with a rising shot. Jonathen Howson's follow up shot was well held by Knight as Leeds kept the pressure on.
On fifty-three minutes the visitors bright start to the second half was rewarded with the winning goal. Robert Snodgrass' cross was headed home by Showunmi who beat Knight to the ball. Darlington's response was to reshuffle. On fifty-eight minutes Jeff Smith made way for Windass and two minutes after his introduction the home side had the ball in the back of the net. Dowson was put through and his shot found the net but it was ruled out by the assistant's flag.
The visitors should have doubled their advantage on sixty-four minutes. Grella was involved again as he found Howson down the right and his pull back into the feet of Showunmi should have seen Leeds take a two nil lead. Instead his scuffed shot was harmless, much to the embarrassment of the player who knew he should have done a lot better.
Johnson also tried his luck from distance with an effort which flew wide on the seventy-minute mark but Showunmi's missed opportunity could have cost Leeds. Deep into stoppage time Bower met a corner kick but nodded wide of the target as Darlington threatened a late equaliser.
