FAWNL North
Leeds United Women 3 (Underdown 14’, 20’, Smart 33’)
Bradford City Women 3 (Prothero 7’, 23’, Stuart 56’ pen)
Leeds: Joyce (GK), Bass (Soares-Martins 78), Hamill (C), Hannon, Robson (Williams 78) Dobby, Underdown (Brown 65), Smith, Smart, Bartup (Danby 65), Hindle. Subs not used: Wattam.
Bradford: Kirkham (GK), Douglas, Woodcock, Jakeman, Stuart, Norse, Knight, Hawkins, Barringham-Beck, Stube (Gill 72), Prothero (Thomas 76). Subs not used: Whelan, Shepherd, Scott
Referee: L. Harland
Venue: Thorp Arch
A fiercely contested West Yorkshire derby ended in a 3-3 draw on Thursday evening at Thorp Arch.
Leeds were playing their first game since a 3-2 win away at Barnsley, coming from behind to take the three points in another Yorkshire derby.
The Whites were on the attack early on when Olivia Smart fired wide, looking to test the opposition in what were becoming tough conditions.
It was however Bradford who took the lead after seven minutes, when Ellie Prothero fired in, finding space on the left of the area to pick her spot.
The Leeds response was superb and they were level inside 15 minutes thanks to a superb effort from Kanisha Mae-Underdown. The midfielder saw the ‘keeper off her line and struck first time, looping the ball over the top of the Bradford stopper and into the net.
Underdown was at it again minutes later and turned one, into two superb long range strikes. The Whites broke forward and once again the midfielder picked the ball up 30-yards or so from goal, striking brilliantly into the top corner.
Prothero equalised three minutes later though, to get her and her sides second of the match to level the scoring once again, with almost a carbon copy of her opening goal.
Laura Bartup had a shot cleared off the line seconds later with Leeds looking to retake the lead, and then Rebekah Bass fired just over as well.
Leeds then took the lead again, before the interval, through birthday girl Olivia Smart. She finished off a fine Leeds move with a right-footed effort.
Half Time: Leeds United Women 3-2 Bradford City Women
Leeds carried on in the same vein in the second half, looking to extend their advantage with Bartup denied again by a smart save, whilst Underdown fired wide when looking for her hat-trick.
Controversy then arrived in the match as Bradford were awarded a penalty. Charlotte Stuart levelled for the visitors from the spot 11 minutes into the second half, with the Whites aggrieved at the decision.
Dan O’Hearne’s side were to feel hard done by again in the closing stages. Abbie Brown had an initial shot blocked on the line, before her follow up appeared to strike an outstretched arm when heading into the bottom corner.
Nothing was awarded in favour of Leeds despite the appeals and that meant the game ended level, with a point for each side.
The two teams will do it all over again on Sunday as they battle it out against one another for a place in the County Cup Final.
Full Time: Leeds United Women 3-3 Bradford City Women
