Thankfully, an express delivery following yet another lightning Whites raid saved the day. And what a prize awaits.

Not surprisingly, it was the predatory feet of Jermaine Beckford that ensured the vast majority of the watching millions didn't start their festive celebrations early – those of a non-Whites persuasion anyway.

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Although you sense the Leeds hordes landed the perfect Yuletide gift by way of yesterday's most tantalising of round three draws if they overcome the plucky Poppies in the replay at Elland Road.

Last year, it was a postman who dispatched United from the cup – remember Histon's Matt Langston anyone?

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Twelve months on, it was a journeyman pro in the shape of Ian Roper who almost did the same.

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The defender – who cut an unassuming bespectacled figure in his civvies after the game – is just the sort of player David-versus-Goliath cup shocks are forged on.

Roper's header in the 63rd-minute put Kettering on the cusp of further cup glory – 12 months on from reaching the fourth round – while United were staring down the barrel of their second-ever FA Cup defeat to non-league opponents.

But United avoided another Histon, thanks to Beckford, although it remains somewhat of a mystery just how they didn't book their round three spot at the first time of asking after having enough chances to win a whole plethora of cup ties.

Relief may have been abounding following Beckford's 78th-minute leveller, but also a sense of disbelief that United didn't progress.

Boss Simon Grayson succinctly summed it up afterwards in saying: "We had too many chances to mention; we could be here all night!"

In the cold light of day, if Leeds hadn't booked their place in the round three draw, it would have been the mugging of all time after they created chances by the sack load.

Yes, Grayson could have well done without his troops having yet another game in a bumper December, but it's fair to say they won't need any motivating for the replay back in Yorkshire, with the whopping prize at the end of it in the shape of Manchester United.

With a heavy schedule of three games in six days, Grayson could have been tempted to make wholesale changes, but in the end, was pretty sparing in his tinkering.

The main changes were at the back with a rejigged defence lining up with Patrick Kisnorbo the latest addition to United's injury list after sitting the game out after picking up a knock last Tuesday night, with Andrew Hughes also missing.

Leigh Bromby switched to the heart of defence with Jason Crowe – no stranger to Northamptonshire from his time with the Cobblers – coming in for his first start since October 19 after recovering from a problematic hamstring injury.

Tony Capaldi was handed a debut at left-back in the absence of Hughes, but in the engine room, it was as you were from the Leyton Orient game with the same four deployed.

With Sam Vokes ineligible, Mike Grella – a late scorer in the 2-0 round one win at Oldham – was handed a rare start alongside Beckford, with United also boosted by the inclusion on the bench of fit-again Luciano Becchio.

A familiar face in the Poppies line-up was ex-United striker Anthony Elding, one of four loanees who started for the hosts.

Home fans were issued with red cards to show their displeasure in the direction of the town's council – accused of dragging their feet over the club's hopes to move to pastures new – before kick-off.

But after last year's fiasco up the A14 at Histon, United were more preoccupied with not receiving their marching orders from the world's oldest club cup competition from yet another minnow.

It was the underdogs who came out of the traps the quicker, with impish winger Richie Partridge showing no lack of confidence following a meandering run which ended in him shooting straight at Ankergren.

Moses Ashikodi then found a yard of space, but his shot was deflected tamely into the grasp of Ankergren, and the Poppies striker then ran at the heart of he United back four before the ball broke invitingly for Partridge, who cross-shot drifted agonisingly wide.

Emboldened by their side's start, the Poppies faithful's spirits rose, before United fired a telling warning.

A sliderule pass found the marauding Beckford in space and after he rounded onrushing keeper Lee Harper, his looped centre found its way to Snodgrass, whose goalbound shot was blocked by Jon Dempster.

Beckford was then cynicially brought down by Dempster, who was cautioned and soon after, the United top gun came desperately close to recording goal no.14 of another bountiful season.

A divine defence-splitting pass from Grella was latched onto by the striker, whose half-volley crashed against the bar and from the follow-up, Snodgrass' rising shot hit the outside of the upright.

Beckford's neat flick then presented a great chance to Grella, but he failed to connect with the outside of his foot when well placed.

Howson then headed wide following a juicy cross from Snodgrass when it looked easier to score as the litany of chances started to stack up before Dempster heroically blocked Grella's beefy volley.

The pattern continued after the break with Snodgrass' low shot held by veteran Harper before a terrific acrobatic clearance from Sol Davis diverted a goalbound effort from the Scot.

Despite being second-best for most of proceedings and struggling to create clear-cut chances, you got the impression that the Poppies might make United pay for their profligacy and every time the men in White missed a chance, the nagging feeling grew.

A rare home foray saw Elding shoot at Ankergren and the visitors were then handed a genuine scare when Simon Heslop steamed into the box before seeing his low effort diverted just wide – and then it happened.

Lubomir Michalik conceded a needless free-kick and the sloppiest of goals saw Roper beat the on-rushing Ankergren to the ball to head home following Partridge's centre.

After a horror-type Histon flashback, United faced a massive character battle as Kettering retreated en masse to try and protect their stunning lead.

Grayson threw on Becchio into the fray on 73 minutes as the Whites set their stall out to throw everything but the kitchen sink at the hosts.
It was overtime for the home defence and Harper, who was considering retirement before the game due to the dual demands of playing and management, with a dodgy back adding to his chagrin. Harper pulled off a brilliant reaction save to deny Crowe and then made an even better one to somehow parry Michael Doyle's header from a few yards out.

Beckford finally soothed fraying United nerves just when many away fans were contemplating that it just might not be Leeds' day, diverting Snodgrass' centre past Harper.

Doyle then ballooned over and the pressure continued with Howson screwing a shot wide following a magical run, while Heslop headed straight at Ankergren as the hosts claimed the briefest of periods of respite.

Leeds' grandstand finish failed to yield reward and the Poppies were left to revel in the most joyous of replays, which was celebrated with all the gusto of a cup final win at the end.