FA Women’s National League Division One North
Leeds United Women 2 (Drew Greene 17’, 78’)
Wythenshawe Women 1 (Dunlop 52’)
Leeds: Simpson (GK), Millard, Legge (C), Cassidy, Elliott (Dixon 70’), Hughes, White (Gibrill-Keating 70’), Smith, Darcie Greene, Woodruff, Drew Greene. Subs not used: Oates (GK), Bentley, Williams, Dawson.
Wythenshawe: Cress (GK), Boylan, Marsh (Ritchie 90’), Patient, Stewart, Dunlop, Flanagan, Chambers (C) (Obida 60’), Espinoza (Pracy 46’), John (Bradley 83’), O’Garia. Subs not used: Limb, Seals, Rowntree.
Venue: Pontefract Collieries FC
Referee: Abigail Greenwood
Bookings: N/A
Leeds United Women ran out 2-1 winners over Wythenshawe Women on Sunday afternoon thanks to Drew Greene’s brace in their penultimate home FA WNL Division One North fixture.
After last week’s 5-1 beating of York City Ladies, Simon Wood named a side with one change, bringing Ellie White into the starting XI in place of Brittany Sanderson.
The Whites almost made a perfect start, as Darcie Greene was threaded through one-on-one before rounding Allison Cress and shooting towards an empty net, but a defender managed to track back and clear off the line crucially.
Leeds were then awarded a penalty as Darcie Greene again broke into the box down the left flank and was fouled inside the area, but Kath Smith’s spot-kick was well-saved by Cress.
After some more prying from United, Drew Greene eventually found the breakthrough as she was played down the right wing by Alice Hughes and fired across the face of goal, her strike taking a slight deflection and finding the back of the net!
Carrie Simpson was then immediately called into action as Wythenshawe sought an equaliser, making a strong stop to Chelsea Flanagan’s powerful effort from close range.
As the clock ticked to the half-an-hour mark, Izzy Elliott was called into defensive action as she sprinted back to prevent Flanagan getting a shot off after the visitors’ number 10 ran through on goal.
Just before the break, Darcie Greene was again denied by Cress as she raced through on goal following Amy Woodruff’s through-ball. Ellie White was first to the rebound and took aim, but clashing her strike against the bar.
This proved the last chance of the half, as Abigail Greenwood blew the whistle shortly after to signal the interval.
HALF TIME: Leeds United Women 1-0 Wythenshawe Women
Woodruff caused problems in the opening stages of the second half, keeping the Wythenshawe defence alert to any openings, but it was the visitors who struck second, Rachael Dunlop equalising in the 52nd minute.
The Whites looked for an instant response through Hughes, who struck with power from the edge of the area, but a deflection took the effort just over the bar.
With 20 minutes to go, Simon Wood looked to his bench, introducing Sian Gibrill-Keating and Chloe Dixon into the mix in place of Elliott and White.
Dixon, with her first touch, attempted to have an instant impact as she was found in plenty of space on the left wing. She dribbled towards goal but her strike at the near post was the wrong side of the post.
Then, with 12 minutes to play, Leeds went ahead once again! The ball was squared to Drew Greene in the centre of the box in plenty of space after some hard work by Gibrill-Keating, and our number 7 fired past the ‘keeper to retake the lead!
Five minutes out from full time, Cress was called into action as she prevented Darcie Greene from securing a third goal for the Whites from distance after being laid the ball off by Dixon on the edge.
However, this was the last chance of the game as Abigail Greenwood blew the whistle, confirming all three points for Leeds.
United take to Elland Road for their final home game this season next Sunday, welcoming Norton & Stockton Ancients to LS11 before final day action against Stockport County Ladies two weeks later at Edgeley Park.
FULL TIME: Leeds United Women 2-1 Wythenshawe Women
