FA Women’s National League Division One North
Leeds United Women 3 (Sanderson 15’, Hughes 30’, White 71’)
Chester-le-Street Town Ladies 2 (Gibson 21’, Ashton 90+1’)
Leeds: Simpson (GK), Millard (Elliott 85’), Legge (C), Cassidy, Darcie Greene, Hughes, Smith (Ellis 75’), Sanderson, White, Drew Greene (Williams 90+2’), Woodruff (Gibrill-Keating 81’). Subs not used: Oates (GK).
Chester-le-Street: Miller (GK), Richardson, Jackson, Hunt, Mysleyko (Spark 27’), Ellison (C), Third, Ashton, Wallace (Hockaday 54’), Gibson, Elson. Subs not used: Wilcock, Heckingbottom.
Venue: Bannister Prentice Stadium
Referee: Martin Iwanski
Bookings: N/A
Leeds United Women return to winning ways in the FA WNL Division One North with a 3-2 win over Chester-le-Street Town Ladies at the Bannister Prentice Stadium on Sunday afternoon.
Goals from Brittany Sanderson and Alice Hughes had the Whites 2-1 up at the break, before Ellie White converted directly from a corner to seal the three points.
Ahead of the clash, Simon Wood named an unchanged side from the positive performance but narrow defeat to Huddersfield Town Women the week before.
Prior to kick off, supporters and both teams took park in a minute’s applause for Ella Lynch, a hugely popular fan at Garforth on a matchday and a talented member of the Leeds United Foundation’s Girls Shadow Squad, who sadly passed away. Both teams would also wear black armbands for the match in Ella’s memory. Rest in Peace Ella.
Moments after the first half got underway, Leeds came forward through White, who attempted to play Sanderson in-behind, forcing the visitors’ defence to intervene. The ball was cleared only as far as Amy Woodruff, who spotted the ‘keeper off her line but cleared the bar.
White again caused problems soon after, playing a neat one-two with Sanderson and feeding Drew Greene through the middle, whose clever run forced Sophie Miller in the Chester-le-Street goal to be alert.
Leeds, still pushing for a breakthrough, then came forward down the right wing. Drew Greene picked up the ball and tapped it to Sanderson, who fired into the back of the net from just outside the area powerfully to open the scoring!
Despite continuous pressure for a second goal, the visitors equalised through Georgia Gibson, who struck into the back of the net after she broke in-behind.
However, the Whites kept fighting, and their hard work was rewarded in the 30th minute as Hughes’ free kick from just inside the Chester-le-Street half evaded a crowd of bodies in the box and found the back of the net!
Leeds continued to dominate possession towards the end of the half, leading to Woodruff eventually breaking free in the area and squaring to White who forced an excellent save from Miller, before Marcin Iwanski blew the whistle for half time.
HALF TIME: Leeds United Women 2-1 Chester-le-Street Town Ladies
The Whites started the second half as they finished the first, well on top of possession. The first opening materialised as Sanderson picked up the ball in midfield and slipped Woodruff into the box, but the ball was slightly too heavy and the ‘keeper collected comfortably.
Hughes was next to threaten the Chester-le-Street goal, as she powered a strike from the edge of the area wide of the target after being laid off by Darcie Greene.
White and Drew Greene also saw Miller intercept two of their opportunities, rushing out of goal and collecting before the two in White could test their luck.
From a corner delivered by White, Hughes rose highest, but her powerful header rattled the advertising boards rather than the back of the net.
This pressure once again paid off in the 71st minute as Alayna Millard won a corner on the right wing following some good work. White stepped up to the flag and swung deep towards the back post. The ball made its way through all the defending and attacking bodies and found the bottom corner, making it three for the Whites!
The Whites, seeking a fourth, came forward again with Sanderson, who threaded fresh substitute Sian Gibrill-Keating into the visitors’ box. The striker took the ball wide before firing towards the near post, forcing a decent save from Miller.
In stoppage time, Chester-le-Street snatched a gosl back, as Jenny Ashton found the back of the net from close range. This proved the last action of the game, as the referee blew his whistle to secure the Whites the three points!
FULL TIME: Leeds United Women 3-2 Chester-le-Street Town Ladies
Rest in Peace Ella, you were an inspiration and will be missed by so many.
