Leeds United Women 1 (K. Hunt 89’)

Stockport County Ladies 0

Leeds XI: Wattam, Bass, Smart, Hannon, Hamill (c), Smith (Underdown 46), R Hunt (K Hunt 75), Danby (Hunter 90), Brown. Williams (Soares-Martins 61), Bartup. Sub not used: Joyce.

Stockport XI: Gibbins, Lysons, Robson, Howard, Owen, Reeves, Rathburn, Figueiredo, Battle (Jern 64), Dixon. Bradshaw. Subs not used: Weston, Linford, Rawston.

A last minute strike from Kirstie Hunt ensured Leeds United Women got off to a winning start at home to Stockport County Ladies on Sunday afternoon.

Leeds started the new season on the front foot with Rebekah Bass testing the visiting keeper from 25 yards out.

Sarah Danby then tried her luck from even further out but her effort failed to trouble the keeper. Danby then turned provider, threading a lovely ball through to Laura Bartup who shot over the bar.

The visitors had their first chance on 16 minutes, but Emily Bradshaw’s header failed to trouble Georgia Wattam in the Leeds goal.

Half way through the first period the Whites nearly took the lead as Bartup volleyed just wide from a brilliant cross from Paige Williams.



Danby then went on a mazy run but couldn’t convert from a tight angle, before Rebecca Hunt latched onto a lovely flick on from Bartup before seeing her shot tipped over.

HALF TIME: Leeds United Women 0-0 Stockport County Ladies

The hosts started the second stanza attacking the visiting goal, with Danby’s cross almost turned into her own net by Kenedy Owen, but the defender was pleased to be let-off.

Wattam was then called into action twice, denying both Bradshaw and Maria Figueiredo from giving Stockport the lead in the game.

The lively Bartup then fired over from 25 yards, before Bridie Hannon saw her looping header cleared off the line as Leeds continued to pressure the away teams goal.

As both teams exchanged further chances, Levi Rathburn then tried her luck from distance for Stockport but couldn’t find the target.

Abbie Brown then had the best chance of the game firing over from inside the six yard box as the clock continued to tick down.

It looked like the goal would never come despite the dominance of the Whites, but super sub Kirstie Hunt let fly from 25 yards and her shot dipped in past the keeper, sparking wild celebrations from her teammates.

Leeds saw out stoppage time to start the new campaign with a win.

Full Time: Leeds United Women 1-0 Stockport County Ladies

Referee: E Shires

Venue: Global Autocare Stadium