FA Women’s National League Cup

York City Ladies 2 (Astle 42’, Hardcastle 45’)

Leeds United Women 5 (White 28’, 40’, 51’, Watson 32’, Smith 68’)

York: Sidwell (GK), Marshall (Trickett 45’), Varley (Harvey 55’), Buckle, Ash (Pegrum 55’), Hardcastle, Duce, Bell (Blundell, Doody, Bentley, Astle (C) (Watt 67’). Subs not used: Woollam, Shaw

Leeds: Oates (GK), Millard, Legge (C), Cassidy, Darcie Greene, Hughes (Hughes 80’), Watson (Smith 63’), Williams (Graham 63’), Drew Greene (Gibrill-Keating 75’), Woodruff, White. Subs not used: Simpson (GK)

Venue: University of York Sports Centre, York

Referee: Grace Dickens

Bookings: Hardcastle (York)

Five-star Leeds defeat York 5-2 thanks to Ellie White's hattrick, full debut goal from Monique Watson, and half-volley from Kath Smith.

Simon Wood made three changes to the side that thrashed Blackburn 7-0 last weekend, returning Charlotte Oates between the sticks, Paige Williams back in the Starting XI, and Watson making her first start for Leeds.

The Whites enjoyed a dominant start to the first half, probing away at the hosts’ goal but unable to find a breakthrough as Williams struck the crossbar early on, before Drew Greene delivered a handful of exceptional crosses that were unable to be converted.

But in the 28th minute, White gave Leeds the lead as she swung in a corner to the near post, which, through a crowd of bodies, managed to sneak into the back of the net.

It wasn’t long after before the Whites made it two, as Drew Greene managed to retain the ball on the right flank and dig out a cross to the back post, where Watson came steaming in and powered her header into the back of the net.

White got on the scoresheet again as the clock ticked towards half time, firing low and hard into the back of the net from just outside the box, after she was laid off the ball from the right wing.

The hosts, however, managed to find a way back into the game, as York Captain Katie Astle fired into an empty net following a defensive mix-up, and then the deficit was reduced to one going into the break as Elisha Hardcastle headed home from the centre of the box.

HALF TIME: York City Ladies 2-3 Leeds United Women

Leeds made another quick start in the second half, as White jinked her way past a handful of defenders and fired a strike past the ‘keeper to secure her hattrick and the Whites’ fourth goal of the afternoon.

The game then descended into end-to-end chances, as both teams looked for the next goal, but it was Leeds who scored again through fresh substitute Smith, who met a bouncing ball on the edge of the box and half-volleyed into the far corner.

The introduction of fresh legs livened the game up for Leeds, with Abbie Graham and Smith finding themselves at the heart of the attack, leading to numerous half-chances that unfortunately mounted to nothing.

But as the clock ticked closer to the 90th minute the game quietened down, Leeds still had the better chances, probing constantly from corners to try and further extend the lead, but time ran out and the final whistle blew.

FULL TIME: York City Ladies 2-5 Leeds United Women

Next weekend, Leeds will travel to Norton and Stockton Ancients for a second time already this season in the Adobe Women’s FA Cup Third Qualifying round.

In the last meeting, the points were shared in the FA WNL Cup, finishing 2-2 as Alice Hughes’ and Abbie Graham’s goals were cancelled out in the last-minute by Green’s equaliser for the hosts.