West Riding County Cup
Harrogate Town 0
Leeds United 7 (Gibril-Keating 24’, 37’, Price 34’, Smith 54’, Rousseau 64’, 70’, 79’)
Harrogate: Sandford (GK), Needham, Hall, Whiley, Freeman, Postma, Taylor, Hitchen, Williams (C), Smith (Parkin 46’), Marshall. Subs not used: Hall.
Leeds: Megeary (GK), Jakeman, Smart (C) (Pizarello 46’), Elliot, Waldron, Price (Hughes 46’), Danby, Dobson, Gibril-Keating (Smith 46’), Hindle, Astle (Rousseau 46’). Subs not used: Kirkham.
Venue: Rossett Sports Centre
Referee: J. Sherwood
Leeds United Women advanced to the Quarter Final of the County Cup, after a convincing victory away at Harrogate Town Ladies in testing conditions.
The visitors started the game in the way they would have liked to do so, and that was on the front foot. Sian Gibril-Keating went close just inside 10 minutes, as Katie Astle played the ball across to the winger, but she put her effort straight at the keeper.
Leeds continued to play the ball in behind the Harrogate defence and their persistence paid off, as they took the lead in the 24th minute!
Olivia Smart played a defence splitting pass through the lines and Gibril-Keating was in on goal. She composed herself and made no mistake from close range, putting her side 1-0 up.
Just 10 minutes later, Leeds doubled their advantage. Ellie Dobson did brilliantly to keep a cross alive, she then teed up Leoni Price who struck an effort from range, and she curled it beautifully into the top corner.
Leeds then went to put their opposition to the sword and they did just that, as they had their third of the afternoon just moments later.
It was Danby this time who played a ball in behind the Harrogate defence, and once again Gibril-Keating was there to make no mistake from close range. That goal secured a three-goal advantage, going into the break.
HALF TIME: Harrogate Town Ladies 0-3 Leeds United Women
Simon Wood made four changes to his side at half time and they continued the second half in the same fashion, as they had a fourth in the 54th minute!
Claudia Sandford looked to clear the ball in the Harrogate goal, Kathryn Smith closed her down and blocked the clearance, and the ball looped up and into the back of the net.
Leeds were controlling the game and creating all the chances and they nearly had their fifth, just moments later. Jess Rousseau hit an effort low and hard, but Sandford was down quickly to prevent the striker from extending the lead.
Just five minutes later, Rousseau made no mistake as she got her first of the afternoon! Rachel Hindle played the ball inside to the forward, she once again hit an effort low and hard, but this time she saw her strike go into the back of the net.
Leeds were not allowing Harrogate to even have a sight on goal, and shortly after they had their sixth goal of the afternoon. Smith put a clever ball into the box, Rousseau took one touch and slotted it into the bottom corner, for her second of the game.
In the 79th minute, Rousseau completed her hat-trick, in what was a clinical second half performance from the substitute. She collected the ball inside the box, cut inside and found the top corner with her effort.
Leeds saw out the final moments of the game and completed a dominant performance, limiting the hosts to very few efforts on goal. They will now face Brighouse Town in the Quarter Final of the County Cup.
FULL TIME: Harrogate Town Ladies 0-7 Leeds United Women
