FA Women’s National League Division One North
Leeds United Women 2 (Woodruff 14’, Drew Greene 32’)
Norton & Stockton Ancients 0
Leeds: Mears (GK), Legge (C), Watson (Harris 70’), Cassidy, Hughes, Drew Greene (Smith 85’), Sanderson, Dixon (Coley 85’), Woodruff (Spencer-Smith 59’), Millard, Darcie Greene. Subs not used: Oates (GK), Dean.
Norton: Wareham (GK) Coyle (Homan 66’), Burton, West, Boyle, Millward (West 69') Owens (C), Atkinson, Leech, Jamieson, Marshall (Patrick 80').
Venue: BD Community Stadium | Attendance: 281 | Referee: Lois Jefferies | Bookings: Sanderson (Leeds)
Leeds United Women secured a 10th win on the bounce after defeating Norton & Stockton Ancients 2-0 in the FA WNL Division One North, simultaneously remaining at the top of the table with a professional performance.
In one change from last week’s win over Stockton Town Ladies, league top goalscorer Amy Woodruff returned to the starting XI in place of Abi Coley, who dropped to the bench.
Involved immediately as Leeds sought to make a quick start, Woodruff played a smart scooped pass over the Norton defence towards Monique Watson, forcing a necessary intervention from a centre-half.
Watson was at the heart of another attack shortly after, with Woodruff playing a neat ball in-behind to the midfielder, but her pull-back was intercepted and cleared.
After 14 minutes, the Whites found a breakthrough!
Woodruff received the ball to the right of the box before lifting it over her marker and shooting. Her initial effort deflected into the air before falling on the goal line, where our number 14 gambled and beat the goalkeeper to tap home!
Almost immediately after, Woodruff was close to finding the back of the net again, racing in-behind before aiming for the far corner but clattering the post.
Alayna Millard was next to threaten Laura Wareham in the Norton goal, being played through on goal by Darcie Greene and forcing a smart hand from the visitors’ stopper.
Watson then came close to making it two, finding space on the edge of the area and taking aim for the near post, keeping Wareham alert as she palmed the ball away from danger.
After 32 minutes, Leeds were able to make it two! Drew Greene tapped the ball into the back of the net after Darcie Greene’s exceptional run down the left flank and pass across the face of goal left her with an empty net to shoot at!
With their sights set on a third before the break, Brittany Sanderson found herself bearing down on goal. Her precise effort ricocheted off the post to Drew Greene, but Norton did well to crowd out her shot before it reached the target.
Despite pushing hard for another, the Whites were unable to extend their advantage before the break, as the referee blew her whistle to signal half-time.
HALF TIME: Leeds United Women 2-0 Norton & Stockton Ancients
Norton looked to reduce the deficit straight from the second half kick-off, with Bianca Owens ambitiously shooting from 30 yards out but sending her effort over the bar.
Responding for the home side, Chloe Dixon cut inside from the left wing and shot towards the near post, but Wareham was equal to her strike.
After another 10 minutes without an opening, Sanderson picked up a half-cleared ball on the edge of the area and took aim. Her shot deflected and wrong-footed the goalkeeper before agonisingly clattering off the crossbar.
Around the 60-minute mark, Simon Wood looked to his bench and introduced Ava Spencer-Smith, marking the forward’s first appearance since rejoining the side from Bradford City Women.
Watson again came close to getting her name on the scoresheet with 25 minutes to play, pivoting in the box and shooting at goal, but a deflection took her strike narrowly wide.
It was almost a captain’s goal for Shauna Legge as the clock ticked towards the final 10 minutes, with our number 3 rising highest to meet a corner at the far post but heading just the wrong side of the post.
Despite a late push for another goal, the Whites had to settle for a 2-0 victory at full-time, securing a 10th successive win in all competitions so far this term ahead of a top-two meeting next week away at AFC Fylde Women.
FULL TIME: Leeds United Women 2-0 Norton & Stockton Ancients
