FA Women’s National League Division One North

Leeds United Women 3 (Hughes 2’, Drew Greene 35’, White 79’)

Stockport County Ladies 0

Leeds: Simpson (GK), Legge (C), Cassidy, Hughes, Drew Greene (Ogley 90+2’), White (Spencer-Smith 90+2’), Smith, Dixon (Williams 89’), Elliott (Millard 89’), Darcie Greene, Gibrill-Keating (Ellis 84’). Subs not used: Oates (GK), Waldron, Ogley, Spencer-Smith.

Stockport: Heap (GK), Lysons, Davies, Owen (C), Greenhalgh (Figueiredo 75’), Battle, Bradshaw, Wilson (Newton 83’), Cole, Podmore (Watson 63’), Turkington (Jein 46’). Subs not used: Lancaster, Csomor

Venue: Bannister Prentice Stadium, Garforth, Leeds

Referee: Teigan Clamp

Bookings: Gibrill-Keating, Dixon, Smith (Leeds) Davies, Greenhalgh (Stockport)

Simon Wood named an unchanged 11 from the side that beat Huddersfield Town 3-1 last week to progress in the Adobe Women’s FA Cup, with Sian Gibrill-Keating, Izzy Elliott and Drew Greene netting.

On a dry windy afternoon, Kath Smith got Leeds to a bright start with a marauding run down the left flank to win a corner. From there, Alice Hughes thumped in a strong finish on the volley, and the Whites were into a 2nd minute lead!

After that, the game settled, but with the home side on the front foot. Stockport County’s first chance of the day came in the 12th minute, with Paige Cole firing a shot into the hands of Carrie Simpson.

As the sun began its slow descent, momentum hung in the balance for much of the half, with strong defensive work from both sides limiting meaningful chances.

Chloe Dixon and Ellie White combined to find Gibrill-Keating free in the box, but her header fell wide of the left post before the Hatters went down the other way and Cole once more forced Simpson into action, this time diving down to her right.

Then, from a deep free kick on the right wing, White stepped up and thundered a ball toward goal, but Stockport keeper Freya Heap was equal to the effort.

Moments later, United had another set piece from an eerily similar position, this time with Dixon brought across to take it, swinging a ball into the box. There, ready and able, was Drew Green, whose glancing header saw Leeds into a well-deserved two-goal advantage.

Stockport sought to strike back quickly, with leading assister Emily Bradshaw finding the ever-present Cole, but her shot from the edge of the box snuck wide.

HALF TIME: Leeds United Women 2-0 Stockport County Ladies

Play got back underway at the Bannister Prentice Stadium with Stockport pressing hard to halve the deficit.

With tackles beginning to come hard and heavy, the first chance of the half fell to the Hatters’ captain Kenedy Owen, who fired in a free kick that required Leeds skipper Shauna Legge to head it out of danger.

Simpson, too, had to be vigilant, as Bradshaw looked to play in top goal scorer Jess Battle over the top.

Leeds’ first opportunities of the second frame came in quick succession, with Gibrill-Keating and Drew Green combining to set up White on the edge of the box. Her curling effort beat Heap but caromed off the top of the bar. A second White shot failed to trouble the keeper.

After a long quiet period, it was the home side who found the crucial third goal in a brilliant team move. Elliott, Dixon and Gibrill-Keating worked the ball right to left to Darcie Greene on the wing, whose cross into the box found the foot of White to tap home.

Shortly after, Smith played White in inside the box once more, but the ball was cleared away and behind by the Hatters defence.

With the game winding down and the three points sealed, United just had to keep their clean sheet intact and did so, their toughness and resolve showing until the end.

It’s another strong showing and a win for Leeds United Women, who move up to 3rd in the league.

FULL TIME: Leeds United Women 3-0 Stockport County Ladies