Smith sparkles

Rushden and Diamonds' "lovely distraction" is over. That had been how the non-league club's multi-millionaire chairman Max Griggs had described Rushden's FA Cup adventure, but it was close to being much more than that last night when Carl Heggs gave the Diamonds an 11th-minute lead.

It did not last long enough, though, for thoughts of embarrassment to fester in the Leeds players' minds, Alan Smith supplying an equaliser 11 minutes later. Smith added a second quickly after halftime and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink drove in the killer third midway through the second half.

Leeds now visit Portsmouth, while Rushden resume concentration on leaving the Conference League.

Rushden's goal followed an interminable melee from which Adrian Foster's shot was cleared by the backtracking Lucas Radebe, Carl Heggs hit the rebound on to the post and then, with Nigel Martyn stranded, Heggs finally struck the next rebound into the bottom corner.

However, to Radebe's credit, the Diamonds' lead lasted only 11 minutes. Radebe initiated a move from the back and Hasselbaink flicked the pass on deftly to release Smith. Oneon-one with the Diamonds' goalkeeper Ian Feuer, the 18-year-old Smith delivered a clinical finish.

Steadied by that, Leeds began to march on and Rushden got 10 men behind the ball, but they held up well. However, the Diamonds' formation was giving Hasselbaink too much room and on the stroke of half-time his slick shot clipped the outside of Feuer's woodwork.

Half-time offered Brian Talbot the chance to reorganise his players. He brought on the 36-year-old Colin West for Foster but West had not even touched the ball when Smith smacked in Leeds's second. Harry Kewell and Hasselbaink were the creators and again Smith's finish was emphatic.

If that had Rushden questioning their belief, it did not show. The visitors went straight upfield where West's knockdown was driven fiercely by De Souza. It flew over, as did Heggs's lob in the 67th minute, and Hasselbaink made them pay within 60 seconds.

Leeds: Martyn, Radebe, Wetherall, Woodgate, Harte, Hopkin, Bowyer, Granville, Smith (Haaland 85), Hasselbaink, Kewell. Subs Not Used: Wijnhard, Ribeiro, Halle, Robinson. Booked: Radebe. Goals: Smith 22, 51, Hasselbaink 67.

Rushden & Diamonds: Feuer, Wooding, Bradshaw, Rodwell, Underwood, McElhatton, Butterworth, Hamsher (Brady 76), Heggs, Foster (West 46), De Souza (Whyte 88). Subs Not Used: Cooper, Corry. Booked: McElhatton, Underwood, Rodwell. Goal: Heggs 11.

Referee: S Dunn (Bristol).