FA WNL Division One North
Durham Cestria 2 (Gears 60’, Noble 85’)
Leeds United Women 2 (Smith pen 82’, Danby 88’)
Durham: LeForestier (GK), Mackie, Bell, Elliott, Winter (C), Gears (Doody 78’), Brown, Noble, Coulson, Nicholson (Collinson 46’), Dale (Townsend 72’). Subs not used: Gibbon, Prested.
Leeds: Oates (GK), Legge, Smart (C), Turner, Hughes, Dobson, Rousseau (Smith 74’), Woodruff, Darcie Greene (Gibrill-Keating 90’), White (Danby 59’), Guy (Drew Greene 67’). Subs not used: Simpson (GK).
Venue: Maiden Castle
Referee: Dwayne Chappell
Leeds United Women twice fought back from a goal behind to earn a point in the FA WNL Division One North away at Durham Cestria.
In swirling rain, action from a windswept Maiden Castle got underway with the Whites immediately on the front foot.
Early appeals for a penalty were waved away by referee Dwayne Chappell, before midfielder Ellie White lashed over from the edge of the area.
Striker Jess Rousseau was next to go close, latching onto a threaded pass from Amy Woodruff in behind the Cestria backline though, from a narrow angle, the forward dragged an effort wide of the upright.
The duo were again involved as Simon Wood’s side looked to capitalise on the mounting early pressure. Rousseau profited on a mistake at the back and raced towards the edge of the area, crossing low for the onrushing Woodruff who was unable to guide her strike into the far corner.
Just before the 20-minute mark, the visitors went even closer and would have took the lead if not for superb defending from Durham’s Rebecca Bell.
Beth Guy rose highest to glance a dangerous White corner goalward at the near post. The header sailed towards the corner, only for the retreating full-back to stoop and head clear off the line.
Keen to stem the one-way traffic, the home side had a flurry of chances with Erin Brown first steering a powerful drive over the woodwork, before a speculative shot by Erin Nicholson, from almost 40 yards out, didn’t trouble Charlotte Oates between the posts for United.
Moments before the break, Guy was once more well placed to meet a dangerous White delivery, this time flicking a header over Simone LeForestier’s goal before Chappell brought an entertaining first-half to a close.
HALF TIME: Durham Cestria 0-0 Leeds United Women
Wood’s side emerged unchanged for the second half looking to grab the opener their play deserved, whilst a substitution from Cestria saw Grace Collinson replace Erin Nicholson in attack.
The tie was slow in sparking into life after the break; Faye Dale and White had brief sights of goal from distance for their respective sides, though none troubled either keeper in the hunt for the first goal.
Despite Wood’s side enjoying large spells of possession, it would be Durham that took the lead when forward Nicki Gears was well placed at the back post to head beyond Oates and into the corner.
Pushing to respond, a surging run into the area from Darcie Greene saw the winger cut the ball back into the path of the recently introduced Sarah Danby in space, who fizzed a strike narrowly wide of the upright.
Oates was then called into action for Leeds, tipping Collinson’s arrowed effort onto the post before substitute Ashley Townsend squandered a great chance on the rebound.
With little under 10 minutes of normal time remaining, the Whites were given a glorious opportunity to level proceedings when Chappell noticed a handball inside the Durham penalty area and pointed to the spot.
Not long after being brought off the bench, up stepped midfielder Kath Smith to send LeForestier the wrong way and grab a much-deserved equaliser.
Nearly as soon as United were level Durham were back in front, however, when Lucy Noble found the back of the net from distance.
The Whites weren’t to be denied a point though and the whirlwind dying stages of the encounter then took yet another dramatic turn when Danby fired a thunderous free-kick in off the crossbar to again draw the Whites level.
Leeds threw everything forward in search of a last-gasp winner, but resolute defending from the hosts ensured the spoils were shared as the full-time whistle sounded.
FULL TIME: Durham Cestria 2-2 Leeds United Women
