FAWNL Division One North
Chester le Street Town 1 (Ashton 72’)
Leeds United 3 (Dobson 14’, Price 32’, Rousseau 80’)
Chester le Street Town: Parker (GK), Jamieson, Prudhoe (C), Darrington, Donelan, Third (Maggs 64’), Ellison, Gray, Hockaday, Ashton, Wilcock (Plender 84’). Subs not used: Lovelace, McIntosh, Wilkinson.
Leeds United: Megeary (GK), Smart (C), Dobson, Elliot, Hughes, Danby, Price (Jakeman 87’), Smith, Pizarello, Rousseau, Astle (Waldron 90’). Subs not used: Kirkham.
Referee: Danielle Whitworth
Booked: Wilcock (Chester) Smart (Leeds)
Venue: Moor Park
Leeds United Women got back to winning ways in the league thanks to a 3-1 victory away at Chester le Street Town, in the FAWNL Division One North.
Goals from Ellie Dobson and Leoni Price put the Whites 2-0 up at the break, before Jess Rousseau’s well taken effort sealed the win 10 minutes from time.
Leeds started brightly, enjoying large spells of possession inside the hosts’ half, whilst looking to use pace on the flanks to get at the opposition.
Just before the 15-minute mark, Rousseau rattled the post for Simon Wood’s side after good play down the right saw Olivia Smart find the forward 30 yards from goal.
On the turn, the striker instinctively let fly, seeing her effort cannon back off the woodwork as the Whites continued their push for an opener.
The pressure finally told moments later when Sarah Danby’s dangerous in-swinging corner was flicked home by Dobson at the back post to give the travelling side a much-deserved lead at Moor Park.
A flurry of chances followed for the home team as they looked for a quick response, with United having goalkeeper Abi Megeary to thank for keeping her side ahead.
A fine save one-on-one denied Lucy Jamieson after a marauding run from the full-back, before Megeary was equal to Erin Third's speculative effort shortly after.
Another fine save from Megeary sprung a devastating counter-attack from Leeds, with Kath Smith's ball finding the onrushing Price on the edge of the penalty area. Spotting the keeper off her line, Price's first-time strike sailed into the back of the net to double the advantage.
Two nearly became three shortly after courtesy of Smart, but her long-range effort flew just wide of the far post as Leeds went in two goals to the good at the break.
HALF TIME: Chester le Street Town 0-2 Leeds United
Wood’s side started the second half the way they finished the first, on the front foot and looking for the third goal to take the game out of Chester le Street’s reach.
Smith threaded a superb ball through to Katie Astle on the left whose shot beat Parker, only to be denied by the under side of the crossbar. United appealed for a handball in the aftermath, but the referee waved play on despite the protests.
Alice Hughes was next to come close for Leeds as she saw her close-range header saved well by Parker, from Smart’s pinpoint delivery on the left.
The hosts weathered the wave of United attacks and began to cause problems for the Whites as the second half went on, with Leeds having Hughes to thank after making a great tackle to deny Rhiannon Gray.
The pressure told on the 72nd minute as Jenny Ashton reduced the deficit to just one goal, looping an effort over Megeary to get the hosts back into the game.
Leeds soaked up the pressure well and finally put the game to bed 10 minutes from time thanks to Rousseau. Smith was once again the architect, finding the run of the striker who rounded the goalkeeper and tapped home to wrap up the points.
FULL TIME: Chester le Street Town 1-3 Leeds United
