West Riding FA County Cup Final

Bradford City Women 1 (Schenk 68’)

Leeds United Women 2 (Woodruff 20’, Gibrill-Keating 49’)

Bradford: Whelan (GK), Jacobs, Fernie, Martin, Washington, Ramsden, Nolan, Markey (Schenk 54’), Stube (C), Todman, Paley (McKenna 55’). Subs not used: Harris (GK), Barraclough, Nelson.

Leeds: Oates (GK), Cassidy, Hughes (C), White, Smith, Dixon, Woodruff, Elliott, Ellis, Millard, Gibrill-Keating (Williams 72’). Subs not used: Simpson (GK), Bowes, Graham.

Referee: Melissa Cairns

Venue: Fleet Lane

Leeds United Women lifted the West Riding FA County Cup for the second season running, retaining their title after goals from Amy Woodruff and Sian Gibrill-Keating proved enough to beat Bradford City Women in the final of the competition.

Ahead of kick-off, Simon Wood made four changes to his starting XI from last time out, with Charlotte Oates, Izzy Elliott, Macy Ellis and Gibrill-Keating coming into the side.

It was Bradford City who had the first chance of the game as Matilda Fernie’s free kick on the edge of the Leeds box rattled Charlotte Oates’ crossbar before Alice Hughes cleared the ball to safety.

The Bantams looked to build on their early momentum through Aaliyah Nolan after she wriggled her way into a pocket of space down the left flank before being stopped in her tracks by Emily Cassidy.

The Whites had their first chance of the game through defender Elliott as she blitzed down the left wing before her low drilled cross found Ellis in the box, whose effort went just wide of the post.

It was United who broke the deadlock, as Woodruff rose the highest to meet Chloe Dixon’s corner and powered a header beyond Tiffany Whelan to put her side a goal ahead.

Aiming to add a second, Elliott lofted the ball to Gibrill-Keating and before she was able to unleash a strike towards goal, Imani Todman diffused the attack with a strong tackle in the penalty area.

Following a short spell of possession for the Bantams, Monika Stube was able to slide a ball through towards Summer Paley but much to the relief of Oates, the pass was overhit allowing her to collect untroubled.

Before the half-time whistle sounded, Dixon lofted a ball over the top of the opposition defence which was received by Gibrill-Keating who managed to take aim at goal but the shot didn’t trouble Whelan in goal.

HALF TIME: Bradford City Women 0-1 Leeds United Women

Looking to start the second half brightly, Ellis was found in an abundance of space in behind the Bradford defence and searched for Gibrill-Keating in the box, with her poke at goal superbly saved by Whelan.

In a similar chance, Cassidy curled the ball around Hannah Washington to reach White before her scuffed cross was met by Gibrill-Keating to tap home a second goal of the afternoon!

Capitalising on the momentum from the second goal, Dixon’s wide free kick was drilled into the centre of the box causing chaos for the defence but Whelan did well to collect the ball.

In an attempt to double her personal tally for the afternoon, Woodruff took aim from range but her effort whistled just wide of the opposition goal.

One-on-one with Mia Jacobs, Dixon danced past the defender by chipping the ball over the top of the right back before being denied by Whelan down low to her right.

After recovering possesion in the centre of the pitch, Sydney Schenk cushioned the ball into space to enable Stube to strike from range but her effort went wide of the post leaving Oates unfazed.

Against the run of play, substitute Schenk ghosted in behind before slotting past Oates to reduce the deficit.

Following a Dixon corner towards the back post, there was a scramble which resulted in Woodruff’s backheeled effort striking the post before being cleared away by the Bantams’ defence.

With a third in sight, Paige Williams took advantage of Whelan being off her line and took aim from range, hitting the side netting with her attempt.

Despite Bradford’s best efforts, they were unable to find another goal before Melissa Cairns sounded the final whistle to crown Leeds United Women West Riding FA County Cup champions for the second season in a row.

FULL TIME: Bradford City Women 1-2 Leeds United Women