FA Women’s National League Division One North

Blackburn Rovers Women 1 (Rice 23’)

Leeds United Women 3 (Woodruff 67’, 90+7’, Smith 90+5’)

Blackburn: Kirkham (GK), Clarke, Tiripke, Rawstron (C) (Whittaker 82’), Breed, Hulme, Grey (Davies 82’), Chan, Rice (Butler 72’), Sharples, Butters (Nsangou 46’). Subs not used: Layza, Lambert, Jacobson.

Leeds: Simpson (GK), Millard (Gibrill-Keating 85’), Legge (C), Cassidy, Darcie Greene, Hughes, Sanderson, White (Smith 80’), Drew Greene, Woodruff, Ellis (Elliott 60’). Subs not used: Oates (GK).

Venue: Loomloft Stadium

Referee: Gary Sweeney

Bookings: Sharples (Blackburn) Sanderson (Leeds)

Leeds United Women ran out very late winners over Blackburn Rovers Women on Sunday afternoon, thanks to a second half brace from Amy Woodruff and spot-kick from Kath Smith.

Coming from 1-0 down, the Whites completed an impressive comeback deep into stoppage time to go level on points with top-spot.

Ahead of kick off, Simon Wood made one change to the side that beat Chester-le-Street Town Ladies last time out, bringing Macy Ellis into the starting XI ahead of Smith.

The Whites got off to a positive start, forcing the Blackburn defence to stay alert to prevent an early breakthrough. The highlight of which being Woodruff latching onto Alayna Millard’s searching ball over the top but lifting over the bar.

Another chance for Woodruff opened up five minutes later as she latched on to a loose ball on the edge of the area and took aim, forcing a deflection. Skye Kirkham was wrongfooted in the hosts’ goal, but the ball fired into the advertisement boards wide of the post.

Brittany Sanderson was next to try her luck from range, stepping up to a free kick on the edge of the box and looking for the top right corner, only missing by a small margin with her powerful effort.

However, completely against the run of play, Blackburn opened the scoring as Ellie Rice slid the ball home after being threaded into the box.

Following the opener, the Whites pushed hard for an equaliser, but the hosts stood firm. The only chance Leeds could conjure up ended in Ellie White finding room and striking from the edge of the box, but Kirkham held comfortably.

This theme continued towards the end of the first half and despite the pressure, the scoreline remained the same going into the break with the hosts a goal to the good.

HALF TIME: Blackburn Rovers Women 1-0 Leeds United Women

Leeds came out for the second hard pushing hard for a leveller. One of the best chances of the opening stages came as the ball was fired across the face of goal, but Drew Greene was unable to make contact and the ball was cleared.

In the 60th minute, Simon Wood looked to his bench and introduced Izzy Elliott in Ellis’ place in a bid to get back on level terms.

Then, seven minutes later, the Whites levelled the tie…

Darcie Greene, now playing as a left-winger, swung the ball perfectly onto the head of Woodruff, who directed home brilliantly to equalise!

Leeds kept probing for another deep into the second half, drawing multiple free kicks from dangerous areas. The bar was struck from one of these occasions, as Smith took aim from a rebounded clearance.

United came close again with five minutes to play as the ball, following another dangerous set-piece, ricocheted back to Izzy Elliott, but her strike was blocked well by a defender.

Then, deep into added time, Drew Greene picked up the ball outside the box and jinked past two defenders before being brought down and Gary Sweeney pointed to the spot!

Up stepped fresh substitute Smith, who calmly slotted her penalty down the middle to give the visitors a deserved lead deep into stoppage time!

But the Whites weren't done there, as they came forward again through Drew Greene, who squared the ball in the box to Woodruff, who placed her strike into the bottom corner to take the scoring to 3-1, proving the last kick of the game as Leeds took all three points back to West Yorkshire!

The next FA WNL Division One North clash for Leeds United Women comes in the form of a midweek clash against Doncaster Rovers Belles at the SL2 Rail Stadium, which gets underway Wednesday 7:45pm.

FULL TIME: Blackburn Rovers Women 1-3 Leeds United Women