Leeds United Women 2 (Bartup 54’, Orr 85’)

Doncaster Rovers Belles 0

Leeds XI: Wattam, Bass, Hamill, Hannon (C), Smart, K.Hunt, R.Hunt , Danby, Brown, Bartup, Williams. Subs all used: Hewson, Trickett, Orr, Hunter, Underdown, Smith, Trialist, Trialist.

Belles XI: Sharpe, Trevillion, Andrew, Rattenbury, Bell, Scargill, Cahill, Breen, McWilliams, Khan, Saxton. Subs all used: Trialist, Smith, Wishart, Sausby, Price, Harrison

Leeds United Women produced a fantastic performance on Sunday afternoon in the Julie Chipchase Memorial Match. Before kick-off, the players took part in a minute of applause in celebration of Julie’s life and the monumental contribution she made towards both teams, and football as a whole.

After a quiet first 15 minutes, the first chance of the game fell to Paige Williams who unleashed a shot from the edge of the box, but Ellie Sharpe in the Doncaster goal saved comfortably.

Midway through the first half Williams had another chance, as the ball fell to her in the box, but the effort was blocked well and Doncaster’s goalkeeper claimed it.

The visiting side had their first opening in the game, coming through a 40-yard effort by Hannah McWilliams as she saw Leeds goalkeeper Georgia Wattam off her line, but the ball sailed over the crossbar.

Just before the break, full back Rebekah Bass got to the byline and sent in a dangerous cross, the ball fell to Williams on the edge of the box but her strike was just off target.

HALF TIME: Leeds United Women 0-0 Doncaster Rovers Belles

Almost instantly after the break, Abbie Brown went close to opening the scoring as the ball was cut back but her powerful strike was saved well by Belles’ keeper again.

Minutes later the Whites then deservedly took the lead through the in-form Laura Bartup, as Rebecca Hunt played a lovely ball and the forward cut in and finished wonderfully into the top right corner.

Sophie Scargill had Doncaster’s first chance of the second period but her long range shot didn’t trouble Wattam in the Leeds goal.

Twenty-five minutes into the second half, midfielder Jodie Hunter had a speculative shot from 25 yards out, which whistled past the post.

Doncaster searched for the equaliser and nearly found it as Kirsty Smith saw her fierce strike saved by Wattam.

With 10 minutes to go, the visitors went even closer to a leveller as Sophie Bell found herself one-on-one with Wattam, but the Leeds shot stopper saved brilliantly. Back up the other end, Kathryn Smith’s volley flew just past the post.

In the 85th minute Leeds youngster Holly Orr superbly fired home following a teasing ball into the area from Kanisha-Mae Underdown, to give Dan O’Hearne’s side a two goal lead.

Leeds comfortably saw out the match and end pre-season with an unbeaten record, heading into the season opener next week with Stockport County.

FULL TIME: Leeds United Women 2-0 Doncaster Rovers Belles

Venue: Global Autocare Stadium

Referee: R. Trinder