FAWNL Division One North
Huddersfield Town Women 2 (Astle 16’, 34’ pen)
Leeds United Women 1 (Woodruff 25’)
Town: Bolton-Woollam (GK), Stanfield (C), Ibbotson, Mallin (Firth 79’), Stuart, Fields, Astle (McMahon 85’), Duffield, Beresford, Housley, Mason.
Leeds: Simpson (GK), Legge, Smart (C), Turner, Hughes (Guy 75’), Danby, Dobson, Drew Greene, Woodruff, Darcie Greene (Smith 75’), White (Rousseau 67’). Subs not used: Oates (GK), Gibrill-Keating.
Referee: Josh Brayshaw
Booked: Fields (Huddersfield)
Venue: Stafflex Arena
Leeds United Women were defeated away from home, with all three goals coming in the first half in a West Yorkshire derby with Huddersfield Town Women at the Stafflex Arena.
In a third successive away game, Leeds had previously beaten Doncaster Rovers Belles in a nine-goal thriller, before taking a point at Durham Cestria with a last-minute equaliser.
Three points separated the two teams, who were side by side in the table, as they each looked for a strong finish to their respective FAWNL Division One North campaigns.
With the first effort on goal in the match, the home side went into an early lead. Shooting from the edge of the box, Katie Astle’s strike took a big deflection, wrong-footing Carrie Simpson and finding the bottom corner.
Leeds had been on top up to this point and looked to hit back quickly, and did so. Olivia Smart’s clever ball over the top found Amy Woodruff, who raced clear and finished well to level the scores.
The Whites would see missed opportunities haunt them as they would go behind once more. Charlotte Stuart went down under a challenge from Lucy Tuner inside the box and a penalty was awarded, from which Astle stepped up to score her second of the game.
When the whistle blew to end the first half, it was the hosts who would go back to their dressing room with a one-goal advantage.
HALF TIME: Huddersfield Town 2-1 Leeds United
Neither side made a change upon their return for the second half, as they recommenced a battling encounter in this West Yorkshire derby.
Set-plays were becoming an important part of the match. It had been a stop-start encounter since resuming, with corners and free-kicks at either end, but neither team could take advantage of those opportunities when presented with them.
When Leeds did force a good chance, it was well saved by the Town ‘keeper. Drew Greene created the space and shot low, but diving to her left, Kacey Bolton-Woollam did well to push the effort away from goal.
With the clock ticking down, Simon Wood made changes. Jess Rousseau came on to freshen up the attack, before Kath Smith and Beth Guy entered in a double switch.
Despite their best efforts, the second half saw a lack of clear chances and that meant the home side secured the three points upon the sound of the final whistle.
FULL TIME: Huddersfield Town 2-1 Leeds United
