FA Women’s National League Division One North
Leeds United Women 0
Middlesbrough Women 1 (Packham 18’)
Leeds United Women: Simpson (GK), Jakeman, Elliot, Smart (C), Sykes (Beacock 85’), Danby, Whitham, K. Smith, Rousseau, Bartup, Brown. Subs not used: Kirkham (GK), Price, Fox, Bass.
Middlesbrough Women: Wareham (GK), Harland, Willis, Packham, Towers, Turnbull, Robson (Baker 85’), Marshall (Donzo 73’), Ward, Bell, Burn. Subs not used: Cook (GK), Mett, Foster.
Venue: Bannister Prentice Stadium, Garforth
Referee: Joshua Brayshaw
Booked: Wareham (Middlesbrough)
Leeds United Women fell to their first defeat of the season, losing 0-1 in a closely fought game against Middlesbrough Women.
Caretaker manager Simon Wood was forced into changes as Paige Williams and Macy Ellis missed out through injuries sustained in Wednesday’s win over York City Ladies. Charlyann Pizzarello was also unavailable.
In came Emily Sykes, Laura Bartup and Abbie Brown to the starting eleven, whilst Rebekah Bass was named on the bench for the first time as she nears a return from a long-term knee injury.
The visitors came into the game with growing confidence. Boro are heavily fancied to compete for promotion this year after raiding Newcastle’s title-winning side from last season, but started the season with a draw and two losses, before bagging their first three points of the season on Wednesday against Durham Cestria.
That momentum and confidence was evident from the first whistle, with the visitors starting on top. After 10 minutes, Carrie Simpson was forced into a brilliant save down to her right to deny Lauren Robson.
Eve Marshall then blazed a shot over from inside the box, before Ellen Turnbull had an effort well blocked by Leeds skipper Olivia Smart.
Former Durham winger Turnbull, another marquee addition for the Reds this summer, was causing Leeds real problems with her pace, on 18 minutes she raced past Smart before teasing a ball towards the back post which Harriet Jakeman had to turn behind.
From the resulting corner, Boro took the lead. A deep delivery found Ellen Packham, free at the back post, who headed home.
Conceding seemed to kick Leeds into action, immediately from kick-off they threatened down the left, with Brown whipping in a wicked cross that was well dealt with by Boro.
Brown was Leeds’ main threat in the first half, she almost got in on 22 minutes after good work from Bartup but was denied by a last-ditch tackle by Packham.
Sarah Danby was pulling the strings in midfield for Leeds as they tried to force an equalizer, she freed Brown down the left again but Packham was there once more for Boro to clear her dangerous cross.
Kathryn Smith forced Laura Wareham into her first save of the game on 29 minutes with a shot from 25 yards, before Bartup and Jess Rousseau also tried their luck from outside the box but couldn’t test Wareham.
HALF TIME: Leeds United Women 0-1 Middlesbrough Women
Early in the second half, Boro were presented a fabulous chance to double their lead, when Sykes under hit a pass back to Simpson, allowing Turnbull to race clear, she rounded Simpson but was stopped by a heroic, last-ditch tackle from Izzy Elliott.
The visitors had started the second half well, Packham almost headed in her second but rattled the crossbar on 52 minutes.
Leeds piled the pressure on in the second half but just couldn’t force an equaliser, Brown volleyed wide on 62 minutes and Bartup saw a long-range effort trickle just wide on 70.
Oumou Donzo came off the bench for Boro on 73 minutes, adding pace to their forward line as they looked to catch Leeds on the counter. She was involved immediately, racing through on goal but opting to square the ball instead of shooting and Leeds cleared.
On 84 minutes, the Boro substitute thought she had wrapped up the three points when she raced away again, she rounded Simpson but was denied by another incredible piece of last-ditch defending from Elliott as she got back on the line and managed to head Donzo’s shot wide.
Leeds threw everything at Boro in added time, Bartup saw a header blocked by Packham, before Rousseau forced Wareham into a save down to her left after a neat turn on the edge of the box.
That was the final effort Leeds could create, as Boro held on for the win.
The Whites will look for an immediate return to winning ways next Sunday as Durham Cestria visit the Bannister Prentice Stadium.
FULL TIME: Leeds United Women 0-1 Middlesbrough Women