BRIAN FREAR made his second appearance for Town and was on target with two first half goals but United hit back for a 2-2 draw at Leeds Road in front of 27,335.
Town boss Andy Beattie had to make changes after Willie Davie withdrew with a groin strain and missed his first match of the season.
He switched Tommy Cavanagh to inside-left, introducing Frear to inside-right, the position in which he made his debut with Town at Stoke City on March 15, 1952.
Frear, 20, signed amateur forms for Town from the Heavy Woollen district in April 1949, and became a professional in 1950.
He completed his National Service and was one of the most promising of Town's younger players.
In 21 Central League matches that season he scored 10 goals.
Despite the disappointing First Division draw with United, Town had still gone 12 months without a home defeat.
The last time when Town's colours were lowered before their own supporters was on February 14, 1953, when Blackburn Rovers scored three times without reply on a pitch made heavy by snow which turned to mud.
Although four of the last five home games were draws there was some progress from fixture to fixture.
Two other clubs were threatening to claim prizemoney for finishing in the top four of the League table (Town eventually finished in third position).
Bolton Wanderers, the only other First Division club unbeaten at home that season, crept ahead of Town by winning at home, and Burnley were behind Town only on goal average.
Town's record during their year of unbeaten home matches was 14 wins and seven draws.
They completed their Second Division home programme with a draw and five consecutive wins followed by their First Division figures of nine wins and six draws at home.
That record was comparable to the three championship seasons when only five home games were lost.
