FA Women’s National League Division One North
Leeds United Women 2 (Brown 8’, Rousseau 60’)
York City Ladies 0
Leeds United Women: Simpson (GK), Robson, Hamill, Hannon, Smart (C), Whitham, Smith, Williams, Ellis, Rousseau (Soares-Martins 90’), Brown (Woodruff 85’). Subs not used: Elliott, Sykes, Underdown.
York City Ladies: Sidwell (GK), Parkin, Holder, Hughes, Smith, Cattle, Hardcastle, Brown (C), Findlay (Sellars 68’), Jones (Heald 22’), Ash. Subs not used: Harriott, Bowman, Fredericksen.
Referee: Z. Ahmed
Booked: Parkin (York)
Venue: So-Trak Stadium
Attendance: 118
Goals from Abbie Brown and Jess Rousseau saw Leeds United Women return to winning ways in the FA Women’s National League Division One North with a 2-0 victory over York City.
Rick Passmoor had asked for a positive response following defeat to Newcastle last time out and called for his players to play for their shirts ahead of a busy end to the season, including next weekend’s cup final.
The Whites boss was forced into changes. Savannah Robson, Paige Williams and Brown came into start and U23 forward Emily Sykes made the bench for the first time in the league.
The Whites started brightly, with Rousseau leading the line and looking particularly dangerous. On six minutes she almost provided the opening goal, flasbing a ball across the face that York keeper Rebecca Sidwell could only palm into the path of Brown, but the on-rushing Leeds forward couldn’t keep her balance as she tried to convert.
It was that exact combination that gave Leeds the lead just two minutes later. Rousseau with a shot that stung the palms of Sidwell, Brown anticipating the rebound again and nodding in her 13th goal of the season from close range.
York simply could not handle the Leeds pair, on 30 minutes, Rousseau dropped off into a pocket of space before threading a ball through to Brown, some brilliant defending from Jess Heald to get back, coupled with some brave goalkeeping from Sidwell, denied Brown her second.
HALF TIME: Leeds United Women 1-0 York City Women
The Whites continued to dominate in the second half, with Rousseau remaining a constant threat to the York back line. The Leeds forward was rewarded on the hour mark with her first league goal for the club.
She latched on to a ball over the top, picked her spot and rifled across the face of goal into the bottom corner, giving Sidwell no chance.
Rousseau wasn’t ready to settle with just the one goal and went in search of another, she once again got down the side of the York defence before chopping inside and firing at goal, only for Sidwell to acrobatically tip over the bar.
Sidwell almost single-handedly kept the scoreline down in the second half, she was called into action again on 64 minutes, saving from Brown after she had been teed-up by a clever Rousseau backheel.
The York stopper had a fantastic evening between the sticks despite ending up on the losing side, her best work of the night was on 71 minutes when she denied Brown with a stunning double save.
Danielle Whitham advanced from midfield and unselfishly set up Brown, her first effort was saved by the feet of Sidwell and she threw herself in the way of Brown’s rebound to keep the score at 2-0.
Leeds saw the game out with a clean sheet, with Carrie Simpson enjoying a relatively quiet night between the sticks.
The Whites will look to make it back-to-back Yorkshire derby victories on Sunday, as Bradford City are the visitors to the So-Trak Stadium.
FULL TIME: Leeds United Women 2-0 York City Women
