FA Women’s National League Division One North
Leeds United Women 5 (Brown 10’ 18’ 67’, Woodruff 25’, Whitham 47’)
Merseyrail Ladies 1 (Adams 34’)
Leeds United Women: Simpson, Hindle, Hannon, Hamill, Smart, Price (Williams 89’), Smith (Underdown 80’), Danby, Whitham, Brown, Woodruff, Ellis (Rousseau 46’). Subs not used: Robson.
Merseyrail Ladies: Camp, Lancaster, Wood, Agger (Halligan 11’), Carlin, Adams, Brand, Tyers, Lambert, Fitzpatrick, Barlow.
Venue: So-Trak Stadium
Referee: L Corns
Attendance: 77
Leeds United Women made a winning return to league action as they beat Merseyrail Ladies 5-1, in their first league fixture for 98 days.
The game was all but done inside half an hour as Abbie Brown scored two and assisted one to put Leeds into a commanding 3-0 lead. The resilient visitors responded before half time through Sophie Adams, but a stunning strike from Danielle Whitham and Brown’s hat-trick goal sealed the victory in the second half.
The two sides came into the game with completely differing objectives. Leeds had their sights on returning to the top end of the table, they came into this game with five games in hand on some of the sides above them.
Merseyrail on the other hand, are more concerned with the bottom end. The Liverpool-based club have won just once all season and came into the game four points from safety and on a seven-game losing streak.
Jess Rousseau was available for selection for the first time since her move from Lincoln City, she took her place on the bench. Rick Passmoor had named an unchanged starting eleven from the side that beat Fylde Women in the FAWNL quarter-final last weekend, but an injury to Bridie Hannon in the warm-up meant Leoni Price came straight back in to start after missing last week with illness.
Leeds started well and took the lead after 10 minutes, Abbie Brown with a brilliant volley after fine work from Sarah Danby on the left.
It should have been two just minutes later, Cath Hamill with a rare opportunity which she couldn’t convert from close range.
It was 2-0 on 19 minutes though, Brown racing clear and keeping her cool to bury it into the bottom corner.
The Leeds winger was clearly in the mood and turned provider on 21 minutes, racing clear down the right and squaring for Amy Woodruff who put the Whites into a 3-0 lead.
Leeds were given a reminder that their visitors would not roll over despite their disappointing start, on 34 minutes some sloppy play at the back was punished, Sophie Adams with a clinical finish from inside the box.
HALF TIME: Leeds United Women 3-1 Merseyrail Ladies
Leeds restored their three-goal advantage less than two minutes after the restart, Whitham showing stunning technique to volley home from outside the box after Woodruff had been denied a second by Danielle Camp.
Rousseau came close to a debut goal following a flowing move down the left but could only fire into the side netting from a tight angle and Camp held firm to temporarily deny Abbie Brown her a hat-trick on 57 minutes.
Brown would complete a deserved hat-trick 10 minutes later, arriving in the box before slotting past Camp, her ninth of the season which sees her move clear of Woodruff and Macy Ellis (6) in the Leeds United Women scoring charts.
The Whites continued to dominate and create chances, but the spirited Merseyrail defence held firm to keep the scoreline to five.
Leeds return to action next weekend as they host Yorkshire Amateurs in the West Riding County Cup.
FULL TIME: Leeds United Women 5-1 Merseyrail Ladies
