FA WNL Division One North

Leeds United Women 3 (Woodruff 5’, Rousseau 66’, Darcie Greene 86’)

Doncaster Rovers Belles 1 (Saxton 22’)

Leeds: Simpson GK), Legge, Smart (C), Danby, Dobson (Waldron 77’), Rousseau (Dias 90’), Smith (Hill 90’), Drew Greene, Woodruff, Darcie Greene, Gibrill-Keating (Price 66’). Subs not used: Lockwood (GK).

Doncaster: Maguire (GK), Johnson, Abadi, Rattenbury, J Tugby-Andrew (C), Farrow, Gigg, Saxton, McWilliams (Laki 87’), L Tugby-Andrew, Fugler. Subs not used: Barnes, Cahill, Yates, Banaszczyk.

Venue: Bannister Prentice Stadium

Referee: Martin Flynn

Booked: Farrow (Doncaster)

Leeds United Women made it back-to-back home victories as they beat Yorkshire rivals Doncaster Rovers Belles at the Bannister Prentice Stadium.

In relentless rain and swirling winds, Amy Woodruff’s early effort had been cancelled out by Jas Saxton’s first-half finish, but goals after the break from Jess Rousseau and Darcie Greene sealed an important three points for the Whites.

Last time out against Durham Cestria, a whirlwind start had put United into the lead inside the opening minutes.

Simon Wood’s side, keen to follow suit this time round, would have gone ahead early on if not for a superb fingertip save from Belles’ goalkeeper Imogen Maguire, to acrobatically tip Olivia Smart’s long-distance effort onto the crossbar.

The visitors didn’t react to that warning however, and Leeds took the lead with just five minutes on the clock!

Kath Smith floated an inviting delivery in from the right flank which Woodruff, at full stretch, hooked beyond Maguire and into the back of the net.

The electric start from the hosts continued and the Whites almost doubled their lead moments later, with Maguire’s diving save parrying away Rousseau’s strike, after the forward had latched onto Ellie Dobson’s searching pass.

From the resulting corner kick, Shauna Legge rose highest to meet Smart’s delivery, glancing narrowly wide of the far post as the Belles survived.

After weathering the early storm, Lucy Farrow then had Doncaster’s first chance as she was picked out by Saxton, with the alert Carrie Simpson on hand to smother the danger as she raced off her line.

Attacking the following corner, Belles’ skipper Jess Tugby-Andrew looked destined to tap home at the back post but was unable to get a shot off, before Simpson saved well from Millie Fugler’s follow up effort.

The South Yorkshire outfit weren’t to be denied an equaliser for too long, with Saxton racing in behind and rounding Simpson to tap home and level proceedings.

That goal from the visitors saw momentum shift somewhat in the clash, with Simpson quickly becoming busy as half time approached, saving superbly initially to deny Hannah McWilliams' powerful drive, before preventing efforts from Saxton and Farrow.

HALF TIME: Leeds United Women 1-1 Doncaster Rovers Belles

After the interval, a chance presented itself when Rousseau was felled right on the edge of the area as the Whites attacked. Up stepped Smart, who whipped the free-kick over the wall, but the strike sailed over the bar.

On the hour mark, a dangerous break from the visitors saw Farrow find space on the left. Her curled effort was initially saved well by Simpson, before Dobson blocked Saxton’s follow up strike.

The ball again fell for a yellow shirt, this time Lindsey Tugby-Andrew, but her powerful drive was parried away by Simpson and Leeds survived.

And how the opposition would rue those missed chances moments later, when Rousseau scored her third goal in two matches!

A weaving run from Woodruff drew a fine initial save from Maguire, but last campaign’s Player of the Season was on hand to bundle home the rebound into an empty net!

With the visitors pushing to restore parity, the game was beginning to become an end-to-end affair, and Woodruff almost extended Leeds’ lead when she charged down Maguire’s clearance.

With the goalkeeper stranded outside the area, the in-form striker looked to lob the Belles’ number one, but her effort bounced narrowly wide of the upright.

United put the game to bed with a few minutes of normal time remaining, with Darcie Greene meeting Woodruff’s near post cross to tap into the corner and score her first goal since joining the club!

FULL TIME: Leeds United Women 3-1 Doncaster Rovers Belles