FA WNL Division One North
Leeds United Women 2 (Woodruff 34’, 45’)
Stockport County Ladies 0
Leeds: Simpson (GK), Legge (C), Turner, Hughes, Dobson, Rousseau (Smith 78’), Drew Greene (Waldron 90’), Woodruff, Darcie Greene (Gibrill-Keating 88’), White (Danby 73’), Guy. Sub not used: Oates (GK).
Stockport: Heap (GK), Lysons, Newton, Lancaster (Battle 46’), Davies, Owen (C) (Bancroft 85’), Rathburn (Figueiredo 72’), Greenhalgh, Csomor (Nsangou 78’), Wilson, Brady. Sub not used: Tutton.
Venue: Bannister Prentice Stadium, Garforth
Referee: Charlotte Jacques-Smith
Amy Woodruff’s impressively taken double inspired Leeds United Women to a 2-0 victory over Stockport County Ladies in the FA WNL Division One North at the Bannister Prentice Stadium.
The Whites started strongly on a bright, if not blustery, day in Garforth with the eventual match-winner Woodruff twisting and turning her way into the area down the right and crossing low looking for the onrushing Ellie White, though Olivia Wilson was on hand for the visitors to hack clear.
The wind was causing havoc in the game’s infancy and almost brought an opener for Simon Wood’s side, taking hold of a deep Woodruff cross which nearly deceived Freya Heap, but the County keeper managed to claw away the delivery from under the crossbar.
Woodruff and White particularly looked dangerous early on, with the latter going close from the edge of the area, volleying a powerful left-footed effort agonisingly past the post which had left Heap rooted to the spot.
The midfielder then linked up well with Woodruff, threading an intricate pass through for the striker to latch onto. Inside the area, the forward saw a low strike blocked well by a blue shirt.
Leeds dominated the ball as the pressure continued to mount with White often at the heart of the attacks. Her inventive chipped ball over the top almost sent Darcie Greene through on goal, but alert goalkeeping from Heap allowed her to race out and hack clear.
Moments later, versatile defender Ellie Dobson struck a powerful drive over the bar from distance with United knocking on the door in the search for the first goal.
The pressure finally told just after the half hour mark, with Woodruff on hand from close range to fire home and round off an electric break from the hosts!
A long pass out from the back by Carrie Simpson released White into space down the right. The lively midfielder gathered well before crossing low into the area, laying it on a plate for the forward to beat Heap and find the back of the net.
Leeds would have extended their advantage shortly afterwards if not for the Hatters’ stopper, who reacted superbly well to tip a Jess Rousseau cross onto the bar, after the delivery had taken a wicked deflection off a blue shirt and cannoned towards the top corner.
The Whites weren’t to be denied a second however before the break and it arrived in style courtesy of Woodruff!
A misplaced Stockport clearance bounced the way of the striker on the edge of the area. Despite a narrow angle and under pressure from Fran Davies, the forward lashed a thunderous effort which arrowed beyond Heap and into the far corner!
HALF TIME: Leeds United Women 2-0 Stockport County Ladies
Wood’s side emerged from the break unchanged as they look to replicate their impressive first half display. Stockport, meanwhile, introduced striker Jess Battle into the action, desperately searching for a route back into the encounter.
The visitors started the second 45 minutes brightly, breaking into the Leeds half through Jess Brady who in turn found Levi Rathburn. Going for goal first time, the attacker forced Simpson into a fine diving save, before the offside flag was raised on the far side.
Heap was next to be called into action down the other end, scampering across to make a good low save to deny Woodruff’s low left-footed strike.
The in-form forward, keen to claim the match ball, was then inches away from doing just that as she nearly latched onto Drew Greene’s enticing delivery towards the back post, but the ball narrowly evaded her.
The Hatters were growing into proceedings and went close to halving the deficit through Brady, with the substitute shooting over the bar as she tried to chip Simpson from outside the area.
The game was beginning to grow into an open-ended affair, with more space beginning to show for Leeds to exploit on the break. Woodruff and White both had half-chances, before the impressive midfielder was replaced by Sarah Danby in a first change of the afternoon for the hosts.
The substitute was involved as the home side went in search of a third, threading a pass behind the County backline for Woodruff to meet, forcing Heap into a fine intervention to deny the striker a well-deserved hat-trick.
Further reinforcements came in the form of Kath Smith, Sian Gibrill-Keating and Ruby Waldron, with United seeing the game out professionally before referee Charlotte Jacques-Smith’s full-time whistle sounded.
FULL TIME: Leeds United Women 2-0 Stockport County Ladies
