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 Beckford's Ball |
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Description:
Jermaine Beckford in action for the Whites here at Elland Road in the game against Gillingham on the 19th September, 2009.
Jermaine Beckford was signed for Leeds United by manager Kevin Blackwell on the 16th march, 2006. Pulled from non-league Wealdstone F.C. for 50,000 pounds Beckford found it hard to find a place in Blackwell's first eleven and the striker was loaned out to Carlisle United for a month in the first quarter of the 2006-07 season. He was handed his first start for United when Dennis Wise took over the managership but was soon away on loan again, this time with Scunthorpe United. After Jermaine impressed at Scunthorpe, helping the club gain promotion to the Championship Wise gave him another chance and he started the 2007-08 season. Beckford did not disappoint as the striker scored 20 in the league that season helping the Whites reach the Play Off's. Beckford has owned the number nine shirt since and in 2008-09 became the quickest Leeds player to bag 20 goals in a season; since Hotshot Peter Lorimer during the Revie era, and soon after became only the fifth player in the clubs history to score 30 goals in a season. Beckford netted 34 times the most goals by any United player since John Charles bagged 43 in the season 1953-54. United were looking to make it 15 league wins on the bounce at Elland Road in the game against Gillingham. Grayson kept the same team that drew away at Southend United in the previous game. Gillingham started the game brightly and it was the visitors who had the first chance on goal but the shot was fired wide, United responded straight away with a Luciano Becchio effort that was poked out by a Gills defender for a corner. Robert Snodgrass whipped in the corner for the Whites and it was Bradley Johnson who found the net with a strong header giving United the lead. Just 10 minutes later on 28 minutes it was Bradley Johnson again who found the net for Leeds firing home a low effort after a delightful ball by Jermaine Beckford that the Gillingham keeper was unable to handle. United now with a two goal advantage cruised to the half time whistle, and with just thirty seconds into the second half gone United made it three. A Robert Snodgrass ball into the box was glanced on by the head of Jermaine Beckford and Johnny Howson blasted home his first goal of the season for the Whites. On fifty minutes the visitors managed to get one back which in turn instilled a new spirit into the Gills who hadn't given up the game but that mattered little and the points were as good as rewarded on 80 minutes when Jermaine Beckford headed home his sixth goal of the season after the ball came off the cross bar from a Michael Doyle effort from outside the box. 21,026 fans turned up for the game at Elland Road and watched Grayson's men win their 15th consecutive league win on home soil. Leeds United: Higgs, Crowe, Kisnorbo, Bromby, Doyle, Howson, Johnson, Hughes, Beckford, Becchio, Snodgrass. Subs: Kilkenny for Crowe, Michalik for Snodgrass, Grella for Becchio. Thanks to Lee Hession for this great pic. Submitted: 09/21/09 Views: 234 Tags: Rate this image:
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