Vitality Women’s FA Cup Third round

Leeds United Women 3 (Whitham 20', 47', Woodruff 63')

Stoke City Women 1 (Richardson 1')

Leeds United Women: Simpson, Hamill, Bass (Price 79'), Smart, Smith, Danby, Whitham, Brown (Soares-Martins 90+5'), Woodruff (Williams 82), Ellis. Subs not used: Underdown, Robson, Hannon.

Stoke City Women:  Hobson, Bowyer, Thompson, Ebsworth, Roberts, Axten, Holder (Barber 64'), Richardson, Bramford (Woodbyrne 64'), Kivel, Jones (Dele 72'). Subs not used: Craven, Gibson, Wilshaw, Beadeu.

Venue: So-Trak Stadium

Referee: J Ashworth-Sears

Attendance: 264

Leeds United Women produced a stunning comeback to defeat Northern Premier Division Stoke City and set up an FA Cup 4th Round tie with Arsenal.

After over a month without a game, it was a disastrous return to action as the Whites fell behind after just 45 seconds, as Kelsey Richardson curled in beautifully from inside the box, giving Carrie Simpson no chance.

A scrappy opening 10 minutes followed but Leeds found their composure and would dominate the game from there.

Abbie Brown had the Whites’ first sight of goal when she got in behind the Stoke defence on 13 minutes, she rounded Liz Hobson but Meg Bowyer got back brilliantly to clear off the line.

Leeds kicked on and were the side in the ascendancy, on 15 minutes, a flowing move down the left saw Amy Woodruff played in, she slotted the ball in through the legs of Hobson but was denied by the offside flag.

The Whites levelled five minutes later though, Danielle Whitham with a trademark burst from midfield, she latched on to a touch from Macey Ellis before slotting past Hobson to give Leeds a deserved equaliser.

Leeds stayed on top for the remainder of the first half but it was Stoke who almost went into half-time in front, Roisin Kivel heading over from close range after Beth Roberts’ cross from the left.

HALF TIME: Leeds United Women 1 Stoke City Women 1

Leeds started where they left off in the second half and did exactly what Stoke did in the first half, score almost immediately. Whitham grabbed her second of the game, bundling in Danby’s corner from close range to give Leeds the lead.

Stoke responded well and put pressure on the Leeds box with a series of crosses into the box, but Leeds dealt with them well to protect their lead.

On 62 minutes, the Whites extended that lead as Amy Woodruff latched onto Kathryn Smith’s brilliant through ball before coolly slotting past Hobson.

Leeds held on for a huge and deserved win, advancing into the 4th Round and setting up an exciting tie against WSL side Arsenal on January 29th.

FULL TIME: Leeds United Women 3-1 Stoke City Women