Scott Dobie kept his starting place for the trip to Elland Road as John Ward went in search of the three points that would cement the United claim for an automatic promotion spot.
Paul Reid took a place on the bench following his successful 90-minute showing in the Reserves in midweek, with the defence lining up with the hope of making it 19 clean sheets for the campaign.
The game started accompanied by a terrific atmosphere, and it was the home side who created the first opening, in the 3rd minute. Johnson fed the ball inside to Douglas, but he opted to shoot early, sending his 30-yarder in to the crowd.
United responded with some good football of their own in the 5th minute when Dobie won a tussle in midfield and pushed the ball out wide. Raven went on a run, and Graham did well to hold the ball up, when he received it, just inside the area. His lay off had just too much on it for Smith, and Hackney could only send his cross behind the nets as the move fizzled out.
The challenges were crisp in midfield, and Howson rode two in the 13th minute to take himself in to a shooting position. A call from Beckford caused him to change his mind, and his attempted pass through the back line ran tamely on for Westwood to gather.
United took the lead in the 16th minute with an excellent passage of play when the Leeds defence fell asleep down their right hand side. Horwood and Hackney exploited it, with the latter edging in to the box before delivering a lovely, low cross to the far post. Scott Dobie, completely unmarked, was able to stab it home from close range despite a desperate dive from Ankergren.
Dougie Freedman put a 10-yard header over the bar in the 20th minute, as Leeds tried to get themselves a foothold in the game, but the Cumbrians could have extended the lead on 22 minutes when Dobie drilled an angled cross in to the box. Graham tried to take it down on his chest, but he put too much on it and Ankergren was able to shepherd it behind.
Kilkenny found a testing cross in to the area in the 24th minute, that Livesey had to stretch at to cover, and Johnson almost surprised everyone with a curling shot when he went short for the corner delivery. Westwood was unsighted, and was very relieved to see it whip over the top.
Leeds huffed and puffed following the goal, but the United defence were able to soak up what were mostly hopeful balls in to the final third, with Jermaine Beckford forced to drop ever deeper in search of the ball.
The move of the half came in the 42nd minute, though, when a patient build up took Leeds to the edge of the box. Kilkenny, Douglas and Johnson exchanged passes, allowing Freedman to move in to space. He bent his shot towards the top corner but, with Wetswood beaten, raised his hands to his head as it dipped over the bar.
Half Time: Leeds 0 - 1 United
Leeds came out at the start of the second half being urged forward by their fans, and they found a goal in the 49th minute following some unforced defensive errors.
The Cumbrians had three chances to clear the ball during a faltering attack, but the home side were able to pounce, using the hesitancy to their advantage. Murphy was eventually robbed on the left, and Johnson wasted no time in drilling it back in to the danger area. Westwood could only parry it, and Freedman used his poaching instincts to nod it home from close range.
United pushed forward following the goal, but they couldn't make their attacking play count as the white shirts sat deep. They were made to pay in the 58th minute, as Leeds broke forward in numbers, flooding in to the box. Kandol fed it to Johnson and his delivery caused problems once more, and Howson was able to stab it home through a gaggle of players as United failed to deal with it.
The Cumbrians reacted positively and were back on level terms immediately from a Bridge-Wilkinson corner. Ankergren fumbled it, and Danny Graham thumped home his left volley in to the back of the net as the static Leeds defence looked on in anguish.
It almost got better for Carlisle on 63 minutes when Simon Hackney used his pace to retrieve a pass that appeared to be heading for a goal kick. He centred it, but Dobie could only stab it towards Ankergren as he came under pressure from Michalik.
Johnson had a 23-yarder deflected over the bar on 65 minutes, but the home lead was restored in the 69th minute when Kilkenny whipped in a near post free kick, following a foul wide on the left by Grant Smith. A half clearance fell for Freedman, and he blasted his volley in to the roof of the net, leaving the keeper with no chance.
Hackney blazed a grasscutter, that looked to be going in, right at Lumsdon as the game continued to switch from end to end, and Kenton dragged his effort wide after a mazy run had taken him across the full length of the 18-yard box.
United created another good opening in the 75th minute when substitute Cleveland Taylor went down the right and slid the ball in to Graham. He held it up for the advancing Dobie, but the big striker had his shot blocked by the outstretched leg of Michalik.
It was a game that still looked to have goals in it, and Lumsdon put Hackney through in the 79th minute as the Leeds defence lost their way. His cross-shot had plenty of power, but Huntington got in the way before Dobie could finish it off.
Douglas was inches away from killing the game off in the 80th when he latched on to a nod down from Kandol. 20-yards from goal he oput his head down and got over the ball, but it clattered the advertising hoardings instead of the back of the net.
David Prutton had a couple of late shots, helping to see the time out, and almost scored deep in to time added on when he raced to toe poke the ball beneath the advancing Keiren Westwood. Kandol went even closer as a high, bouncing ball caused confusion, but his initial shot was blocked by Westwood. But, with the keeper out of action, all he had to do was slide it in to the waiting net and claim the glory. However, Raven was back to cover, kicking it away before it could cross the line.
Goals
Leeds - Freedman (49, 69), Howson (58)
United - Dobie (16), Graham (60)
Bookings
Leeds - Huntington (54)
United - Graham (43), G Smith (68)
Teams
Leeds - Ankergren, Richardson, Huntington, Douglas, Beckford (Kandol 51), Howson, Johnson (Hughes 88), Michalik, Kenton, Kilkenny (Prutton 81), Freedman. Subs - Lucas, Elding.
United - Westwood, Raven, Livesey, Murphy, Horwood, Dobie (Madine (81), Lumsdon, Bridge-Wilkinson, G Smith (Taylor 73), Hackney, Graham. Subs - Howarth, Reid, Carlton.
Away fans - tbc
