HUCKS DAZZLES AT SELCO YORKSHIRE MASTERS

Speed demon Darren Huckerby once again left defenders dazed as he fired Leeds United to the grand final of the Selco Masters Cup.

Pre-tournament favorites Leeds lived up to their billing, thanks in the main to the brilliance of the former Newcastle, Coventry, Man City and Leeds ace.

The Whites were widely tipped to qualify for the Manchester final due to them being the youngest side in the heat, but their plans were thrown into turmoil shortly after kick off when skipper Noel Whelan hobbled off the field.

The diagnosis on Whelan was a ruptured disc in his back, but the outlook for his side was much healthier as Huckerby gave an insight into what was to come with a sublime opening strike in a 3-2 victory over Barnsley.

Sadly for the Tykes that spelt the end of their run in the competition, having already suffered an unlikely defeat at the hands of Huddersfield.

It seemed Barnsley were set for a fast start to the competition but Huddersfield bounced back with three screamers to take the tie – eventually winning 4-3.

The other group, containing both sides of Sheffield along with Doncaster began with a less lively 2-2 draw between Wednesday and Rovers, but the pool came to life in match two as Sheffield United knocked out Donny to set up a clincher with their neighbours for a place in the final.

The Blades had seemed the more attacking of the two sides and so it proved – with the red and white flag flying high after a 5-3 victory in a game that had at one stage been intriguingly poised at 3-3.

And it wasn’t just Huckerby taking the plaudits, as Dean Windass showed he could still walk the walk alongside the workmanlike Craig Short as the Blades’ two most effective players.

With Wednesday in the final Leeds met Huddersfield for the remaining place, and after a cagey start to a game that the Whites had to win it was Huckerby that once again set them on their way – this time weaving through the defence to fire home.

That seemed to be the cue for Leeds to romp home, but Town had other ideas as the scenario swung one way and then the other, before Jamie Forrester fired home a stunning curler to finally settle the issue.

And from there Leeds were on a relentless march to the trophy, with Huckerby again proving prolific in the final, netting four times in a 5-3 win and taking his tournament tally to an impressive eight.

After lifting both the man of the tournament and golden boot mantles Huckerby was understandably delighted.

 He said: “Yeah it wasn’t bad was it! I’ve got some blisters now and they are killing me but we did really well and it is great to have reached the final.

“it won’t get any easier though because Liverpool, Man City, Man Utd and Rangers are already there and they have some very good players in their team.

“We are a young side though and we will have every chance.”

Selco Regional Manager Dave Farmer who presented the trophy to Leeds ace Huckerby believes the crowd at the Yorkshire Masters have witnessed the best display to date.

He said: “Darren has really set the tournament alight this year and highlights the standard that the Selco Masters Cup has now reached – he looked like he would still have been more than at home in the Premiership.”

“Heat by heat the Selco Masters Cup grand final is becoming a more and more mouthwatering proposition.”