FA WNL Division One North
Chorley Women 2 (Newhouse 45’, Ritchie 64’)
Leeds United Women 3 (Gibrill-Keating 25’, 31’; Drew Greene 35’)
Chorley: Finch (GK), Parish, Searson (C), Cook (Gunn 86’), Wade, Parker (Mehdi 58’), Ritchie (Coward 73’), Newhouse, Worthington, Unsworth (Vella 65’), Stanhope. Subs not used: Derbyshire.
Leeds: Simpson (GK), Legge, Smart (C), Hughes, Dobson, Smith (Jakeman 90’), Drew Greene (Langstaff 77’), Woodruff, Darcie Greene, Gibrill-Keating (Waldron 84’), Guy. Subs not used: Oates (GK), Price.
Venue: Euxton Villa
Referee: Dwayne Chappell
Booked: Unsworth (Chorley) Simpson (Leeds)
Leeds United Women dug deep to record an impressive victory over Chorley Women away from home, to make it five straight wins in the FA WNL Division One North.
On a typical Lancastrian afternoon, sodden and deceptively cold, a well taken first-half brace from Sian Gibrill-Keating and a composed finish from Drew Greene had put the Whites into a commanding lead and, although the hosts did pull two goals back, Leeds saw out the game to claim all three points.
Before the action got underway, both sets of players, led out by United skipper Olivia Smart carrying a poppy wreath, came together in a moment of reflection on Remembrance Sunday.
As play got underway, the visitors started brightly, enjoying large spells of possession and making the early inroads in search of an opener.
A first opportunity came when Amy Woodruff initially flicked on inventively towards Kath Smith, with the midfielder's header then finding the run of Gibrill-Keating. The forward did superbly to work a yard of space inside the area but drilled a powerful effort narrowly wide of the far post.
The Whites, on the day in yellow, were impressive from the off, dominating possession as they searched for the opener and limiting the hosts to few chances; a speculative effort from Megan Parker didn’t trouble Carrie Simpson between the posts.
Simon Wood’s side deservedly took the lead when a superb ball from Woodruff expertly picked out the run of Gibrill-Keating in behind the Chorley line. With just Mollie Finch to beat, the striker kept her composure and confidently found the back of the net!
Leeds were in the ascendancy and would have doubled their tally if not for Finch in the Chorley goal, with the keeper making a superb diving save to deny Woodruff’s curling effort from the edge of the area.
The second would come however within minutes, when Gibrill-Keating grabbed an almost carbon copy of the opener.
The forward latched onto Beth Guy’s pass inside the hosts’ half and produced a fine piece of skill to dance past a defender and maraud into the box. With just Finch to beat, Gibrill-Keating lifted a great strike over the onrushing stopper to extend the lead!
In what had been a whirlwind few minutes, Drew Greene added a third in predatory fashion, capitalising on a poor back pass and racing through on goal. The versatile forward darted into the area and calmly rounded Finch to tap into an empty net.
Despite the Wites’ dominance, Carmelo Ruggieri’s Chorley side reduced the deficit moments before Dwayne Chappell brought an entertaining first half to a close, when Safron Newhouse curled a superb strike into the top corner from distance.
HALF TIME: Chorley Women 1-3 Leeds United Women
That goal just before the break rejuvenated a Chorley side that had struggled with the Whites' approach in the first half and began the second 45 strongly, with desperate defending from Ellie Dobson crucially clearing the danger after a initial defensive mix up that Megan Parker looked to profit from.
Newhouse then dragged wide of the upright from the edge of the area, after being put under pressure by multiple yellow shirts.
Keen to stop the hosts' growing momentum, Smith then left the woodwork shaking with a rasping strike as she met Woodruff's cross from the right as Chorley survived.
Just after the hour mark, Chorley grabbed a second goal to set up a nervy ending to proceedings, when Ella Ritchie scored an audacious lobbed effort from distance over Simpson that nestled in the back of the net.
Further chances came and went for the hosts, initially through Newhouse who had a great chance at the back post but was unable to connect as Guy headed clear, before Isabelle Wade rose highest to meet a dangerous in-swinging corner but glanced wide of the far post.
Wood's side still offered a threat themselves on the break however and went close through substitute Ruby Waldron, after the full-back charged to the edge of the area and fizzed a low strike across goal and narrowly wide.
Despite the home team being camped inside the United half as they frantically searched for an equaliser, resolute defending from Leeds saw them negotiate a seemingly never-ending period of injury time before the full-time whistle sounded!
FULL TIME: Chorley Women 2-3 Leeds United Women
Next time out, Leeds face York City Ladies at Elland Road on Sunday 17th November. Secure your seat HERE!
