VICTORIES don’t come much sweeter than this – and how Town’s travelling fans savoured a three-point haul clinched by Michael Collins’ dramatic stoppage-time strike.

It’s not every day Town win at Elland Road – in fact it’s not often any side does these days – and the celebrations were still going on a good five minutes after the final whistle, with several players having thrown their shirts to dancing supporters.

Click here for a photo gallery from the match - with shots of both Town goals.

The Town faithful still talk about the League Cup success at Leeds of 1982-83, sealed by Dave Cowling’s header, and the 2-1 Boxing Day win in the original Division II the season after, when Colin Russell and Mark Lillis counted.

Before Saturday, Town had been back six times, and managed to score just once, and Gary McAllister’s men were chasing a sixth straight League I win on home territory.

When Robert Snodgrass put Leeds ahead with his first goal for the club just three minutes and five seconds into the clash, home fans in a 32,028 crowd must have been expecting a repeat of last season’s 4-0 scoreline.

But with Gerry Murphy’s charges showing grit, determination and character, it was the visiting contingent whose voices could be heard at the end, with the chant “2-1 in your cup final” referring to Leeds’ claims that the return of the derby is a much bigger deal for Town than it is for them.

The 36th competitive clash of these two neighbours at Elland Road turned 27 seconds into the second half, when Joe Skarz, making his 50th start, levelled with his first career goal.

It came without a Leeds player touching the ball, and Town’s confidence was given a real boost.

Make no mistake, Leeds still had good chances to regain the lead, but Murphy’s men also attacked with more menace than they had in the first half, when Leeds looked quicker and sharper in both thought and deed.

The caretaker manager made two changes to the side which started the previous week’s 4-3 FA Cup first-round home defeat by Port Vale, with James Berrett coming in for Robbie Williams and taking the sweeper’s role and Keigan Parker replacing Phil Jevons up front.

Berrett, used just once by Stan Ternent, and that in the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy, had a blinder in between Nathan Clarke and Andy Butler as Argentinian frontman Luciano Becchio and substitute Jermaine Beckford, who have 23 goals between them this season, were kept out.

And Parker’s pace and persistence ensured a suspect-looking Leeds defence could never settle.

Scotsman Snodgrass, who took advantage of some lax defending to hook home Becchio’s deep cross from the left for his goal, looked lively early on, and Town were relieved when he skewed wide a header from another Robinson’s cross, then had a 40th-minute shot deflected onto the roof of the net.

Town had a fifth-minute penalty appeal turned down, with referee Mark Halsey ruling Ben Parker’s foul on Keigan Parker was just outside the box (Gary Roberts drilled the free-kick narrowly over).

Then Roberts was wide from distance before Ian Craney cut through the Leeds defence only to overrun the ball in the 27th minute.

Roberts tried to beat a man too many in the 37th minute, then Skarz misdirected a header from Parker’s cross, but as Leeds were caught out at the start of the second half, the left wing-back made no mistake when approach play by Parker and Craney set him up for a volley which fizzed into the net.

Leeds were shaken, but still created chances to regain the lead, with Butler making a vital clearance from Ben Parker and Matt Glennon making good saves to deny both Becchio and Beckford before Becchio headed a Snodgrass centre against the bar.

Although Parker rounded Casper Ankergren only to fire over and Roberts broke free but shot straight at the keeper, Town would probably have taken a point.

But when substitute Danny Cadamarteri broke forward and turned defender Paul Telfer inside out before crossing, Collins was able to volley home – and spark one big party.