FAWNL League Cup Determining Round
Halifax Women FC 0
Leeds United Women 2 (Danby 80’, Greene 87’)
Halifax: Bamford (GK) (Al Qaimi 90’), Melrose, Whitham, Walsh, Nuttall (Sears 64’), Clarke (Franks 30’), Armson, Harrison, Stout, Gallagher (McKenna 64’), Wilson. Sub not used: Bywater (GK).
Leeds: Simpson (GK), Legge, Smart (C) (Jakeman 90’), Turner, Danby, Dobson, Rousseau, Smith, Greene, Gibrill-Keating (Woodruff 57’), Elliott (Waldron 57’). Sub not used: Lockwood (GK).
Venue: Millennium Stadium, Featherstone
Referee: Stephen Brown
Booked: Whitham, Gallagher (Halifax) Danby (Leeds)
Leeds United Women booked their spot in the next round of the FAWNL Cup with an impressive win over local rivals Halifax Women.
Goalless at the break, late goals from Sarah Danby and Drew Greene saw the Whites progress, at the expense of their higher-tier opposition.
Looking to make the early inroads, former Halifax player Shauna Legge played a searching ball over the top which Greene raced onto, but good covering from Lucy Walsh saw the hosts survive.
The bright start continued with a lightening counter from Leeds, as Kath Smith picked out Ellie Dobson on the right. Her intelligent flick found Sian Gibrill-Keating, though Walsh was again well placed to intervene.
Simon Wood’s side would have taken the lead shortly after the 10-minute mark if not for Halifax goalkeeper Jamie-Lee Bamford, who made a fine diving save low to her right to parry away Olivia Smart’s inventive free-kick.
In the week where Liam and Noel made the news, namesake Chantelle Gallagher then tried to write her own headlines as she struck from range, with her speculative effort sailing wide of Carrie Simpson’s far post.
Approaching the interval, Leeds had the biggest chance of the opening half when Gibrill-Keating fired over from inside the area.
Smart’s powerful drive was spilled initially by Bamford, who then saved superbly to deny Legge’s rebound effort. The ball fell invitingly for Gibrill-Keating but, under pressure, the forward was unable to bundle home.
HALF TIME: Halifax Women FC 0-0 Leeds United Women
Bamford’s impressive evening continued as the visitors continued to threaten after the break, making a stunning diving save to deny Jess Rousseau’s glancing header, after the forward latched onto Smart’s dangerous delivery.
From the resulting set-piece, the ball cannoned off Dobson and bounced agonisingly wide, with Bamford left rooted to the spot.
Still searching for the all-important opener, substitute Ruby Waldron showed great tenacity to win back possession for her side and found Dobson down the right flank. The midfielder’s low cross bounced the way of Rousseau at the back post, but the striker was unable to convert.
In a rare venture forward from the hosts, Halifax’s Minnie Wilson profited from a loose ball and raced away down the right, shooting low which the retreating Lucy Turner blocked superbly. Wilson then went through on goal again moments later, forcing the alert Simpson into a fine save.
Those chances would come back to haunt the home side with 10 minutes remaining, when the Leeds pressure finally told as Danby opened the scoring in style.
Rousseau held up play superbly and picked out the run of Danby, who took a touch to drive into the area. After scoring in the weekend’s victory over Fylde, the midfielder made it two in two as she drilled a low strike in off the post!
Within minutes, the lead was almost doubled when Waldron struck a fierce effort from range that looked destined for the top corner, only for Bamford to make a stunning fingertip save to keep her side in the tie.
That hope would soon be extinguished however, when Greene darted through and rounded the keeper, tapping home a second against her former club to see Wood’s side progress into the next round!
FULL TIME: Halifax Women FC 0-2 Leeds United Women
