Mighty minnows Rushden, the team built by Dr Martens multi-millionaire Max Griggs, came so close to putting the boot into Leeds United.

By the end of this Cup-tie, it was 10-man Leeds - centre-back Jonathon Woodgate was dismissed in the 74th minute - who were left hanging on.

The 90 places separating Leeds from Conference outfit Diamonds seemed non-existent as United were made to battle like never before this season, even though they have travelled to the likes of Roma, Liverpool and Manchester United.

David O'Leary's side had scored 21 goals in their last eight matches, but they never looked like finding a way past Rushden, who threw everybody into the way of anything United managed to piece together.

It was Cup romance rekindled as the record-breaking Nene Park crowd of 6,431 rose to acclaim Griggs' 'Diamond-geezers' when Steve Dunn blew his whistle to signal the end of a pulsating tie.

Griggs had decided, and rightly so, not to switch the game to Elland Road as he rewarded the fans who have seen him build up the team from virtually nothing over the last seven years.

Rushden can now expect a huge pay-day from a richly-deserved replay on January 12 for their bravura performance.

If there were any nerves among the Rushden players they would have been quickly dispelled with just 50 seconds gone on the scoreboard which Griggs purchased for £18,000 when Millwall's old Den ground was being demolished.

John Hamsher's corner was flicked on at the near post by Michael McElhatton for leading scorer Adrian Foster at the back stick, but his header was inches wide of Nigel Martyn's right-hand post.

The accusing glances from Leeds' untried defence said it all as boss David O'Leary went into the game without four centre-backs in Lucas Radebe, Robert Molenaar, Martin Hiden and David Wetherall.

It was left to 18-year-old Woodgate and 21-year-old Ian Harte to marshall the backline, but that inexperience was shown up just minutes later.

Woodgate made a hash of a clearance inside his own D, with the stray pass falling straight into the path of McElhatton. The utility man then found Miguel De Souza, a recent signing from Peterborough, whose drive was just over the bar as Martyn looked on aghast.

The banana-skin lay in wait, but United soon found their feet and proceeded to dominate the next 30 minutes, ultimately being denied by a combination of last-ditch defending and fine keeping.

A sharp turn from Clyde Wijnhard, starting his first game since November 21, saw Las Vegas-born Ian Feuer in the Rushden goal beaten for the only time of the day.

But Wijnhard struck the base of the post with his angled drive, although the rebound fell invitingly for right-back Danny Granville. Having made one sub appearance since October 28, he looked odds-on to score, but his sidefoot shot struck skipper David Hopkin and although the ball trickled goalwards, the exceptional Jim Rodwell was on hand to clear.

As Leeds pegged Rushden further and further back, it appeared only a matter of time before the breakthrough came as Wijnhard half-volleyed narrowly wide and Hasselbaink was foiled from 20 yards by a late stop from Feuer on his home debut.

The American, on a temporary contract but surely earning himself a permanent deal after this performance, then denied Wijnhard at point-blank range, before Diamonds then took control for the closing 10 minutes of the half.

Rodwell, a rock at the heart of the Rushden defence, found himself in United's penalty area for a looping header which clipped the top of the crossbar.

After De Souza had fluffed a one-on-one in the 35th minute and with Leeds clearly on the back-foot, Martyn then called on all his England international experience.

The 32-year-old had to be at full stretch in the 39th minute to tip over a 25-yard dipping shot from Rushden captain Gary Butterworth, moments before Foster volleyed over from eight yards after being given acres of space at the far post following a Rodwell header-on.

Although there were fewer clear-cut chances in the second half, the excitement was still at fever pitch as Rodwell again blocked a Hasselbaink effort.

The Dutch international was then foiled by former West Ham and Luton keeper Feuer, who also produced another stunning block to keep Harry Kewell's 18-yard goalbound drive at bay.

Once Hopkin had shaved the post moments later, the tide of the tie turned again, in particular when Woodgate was given his marching orders for a second bookable offence.

After being shown yellow late in the first period, Woodgate saw red in the 74th minute for a foul on the edge of the area on Paul Underwood. Bristol referee Dunn had no hesitation in dismissing the teenager, with his suspension in two weeks' time only adding to the crisis at the back for O'Leary.

Over the closing 15 minutes, Leeds then clung on grimly for FA Cup survival as Rushden pushed forward in search of the goal which would see them write their own chapter into the annals of soccer's greatest competition.

But despite Leeds' nerves raw and down to the bone, they just managed to deny the team assembled for a cost of just £200,000.

Teams:

Rushden & D'monds: Feuer, Wooding, Bradshaw, Hamsher, Rodwell, Heggs, McElhatton, Butterworth, Foster, De Souza, Underwood.

Subs Not Used: Brady, Corry, Whyte, Wilson, Cooper.

Booked: Butterworth, Foster.

Leeds: Martyn, Haaland, Wijnhard (Smith 67), Hasselbaink, Bowyer, Hopkin, Granville, Halle, Kewell, Harte, Woodgate.

Subs Not Used: Ribeiro, Jackson, McPhail, Robinson.

Sent Off: Woodgate (76).

Att: 6,431

Ref: S Dunn (Bristol).