Leeds United conceded a goal that deflected in off the backside of a Carlisle United player, but it was the away team who may feel that they got the bum deal at Elland Road last night.

Carlisle were leading 2-0 and with one foot in the Coca-Cola League One play-offs final when the fourth official signalled four minutes of time added on, but when Dougie Freedman claimed a crucial late goal for Leeds that put a different complexion on the tie, six minutes had elapsed.

Given that Anthony Bates, the referee, shares the same surname as the Leeds owner, Carlisle supporters may have smelt a conspiracy, but, to his credit, John Ward, the Carlisle manager, refused to criticise the official. “Two minutes is a big difference, but you won’t find me grumbling about the referee,” he said. “I thought he had a good game, so you better ask him how he made that out, but you play until you finish.”

At 2-0 down, Leeds’ hopes of promotion to the Coca-Cola Championship were hanging in the balance, but they will travel to Brunton Park for the second leg on Thursday with a spring in their step, even if they will have to play better if they are to see off inventive and industrious opposition.

“The goal gives us a big psychological lift,” Gary McAllister, the Leeds manager, said. “It puts a different perspective on the tie, but I’ve always felt that it will go down to the final minute of the second leg.”

Up until Freedman’s dramatic late intervention, Leeds had endured a frustrating night. Keiran Westwood may have been in inspired form in the Carlisle goal, but the visiting team were the more purposeful.

Their recent form could not have contrasted more starkly with that of Leeds. While McAllister’s team had won six of their previous eight games, Carlisle had mustered only one victory in the same sequence, but, as so often is the case in play-offs or cup competitions, the formbook goes out of the window — and so it proved.

Although Westwood produced three fine saves to keep Leeds at bay in the first half, notably in tipping aside Jermaine Beckford’s curling effort, Carlisle deserved to be 1-0 in front at the interval, although the goal owed much to luck.

A corner that should never have been given was only partially cleared to Simon Hackney, whose left-foot volley deflected in off the rear of Danny Graham, who had an uneventful spell on loan at Leeds two years ago.

With Elland Road packed to the rafters, the atmosphere rekindled memories of happier times, when Leeds played in front of full houses in the Champions League before their descent through the divisions, but Carlisle seemed unfazed by the hostile surroundings.

Marc Bridge-Wilkinson struck a post in the ninth minute, but doubled Carlisle’s lead in the 50th minute when he poked home Evan Horwood’s cross moments after spurning a one-on-one, although the celebrations were soured when Leeds supporters threw two coins on to the pitch. The FA may decide to investigate.

Carlisle, however, had not reckoned on Freedman and, after Paul Huntington’s long punt upfield brought pandemonium in the penalty area, the Leeds striker was on hand to bundle the ball home. Game on.

Leeds United (4-4-2): C Ankergren — F Richardson, L Michalik, P Huntington, B Johnson — N Kilkenny, J Douglas, J Howson (sub: A Hughes, 90min), D Prutton (sub: S Carole, 78) — D Freedman, J Beckford (sub: T Kandol, 58). Substitutes not used: D Lucas, R Márques. Booked: Hughes.

Carlisle United (4-4-1-1): K Westwood — P Arnison, D Livesey, P Murphy, E Horwood — S Dobie, C Lumsdon, G Smith (sub: P Thirlwell, 80), S Hackney (sub: C Taylor, 70) — M Bridge-Wilkinson — D Graham (sub: G Madine, 90). Substitutes not used: C Howarth, D Campion. Booked: Dobie, Arnison.

Referee: A Bates.

Darren Cann has been appointed as one of the assistant referees for the Coca-Cola Championship play-offs semi-final, second leg between Crystal Palace and Bristol City at Ashton Gate this evening. As a youngster, Cann was an apprentice professional at Palace before being released by Steve Coppell, the manager of the South London club at the time, in 1987. City hold a 2-1 lead after the first leg at Selhurst Park.