FAWNL Division One North
Leeds United Women 0
Newcastle United Women 2 (Elson 74’ 89’)
Leeds United Women: Simpson (GK), Hindle, Hamill, Hannon, Smart, Whitham, Smith, Danby, Rousseau (Brown 60’), Woodruff, Ellis. Subs not used: Robson, Thomas, Williams, Soares-Martins.
Newcastle United Women: Donnelly (GK, C), Potts, Guy, Bailes, Gibson, Elson, Ferguson, Skelton, Bell (Soulsby 67’), Burt, Lee. Subs not used: Robson, Dobson, Milne-Redhead, Pizzarello.
Venue: Druid Park
Attendance: 459
Referee: O Arakpogun
Booked: Ferguson (Newcastle) Smith (Leeds)
Leeds United Women fell to a 2-0 defeat against a strong, title-chasing Newcastle side on a difficult afternoon at Druid Park.
Rick Passmoor made two changes from the side that beat Southampton Women in the FAWNL Plate semi-final last weekend, as Jess Rousseau and Kathryn Smith came in to start in place of Leoni Price and Abbie Brown.
Olivia Smart captained the side on what was her 300th appearance for the club.
It was a scrappy affair early on, with neither able to gain control of the game in difficult windy and wet conditions.
As the game opened, up both sides began to create chances with both left-wingers proving to be the major threats.
Kacie Elson forced Carrie Simpson into a save at her near post, before Macy Ellis struck the Newcastle bar with a curling shot after a trademark burst down the left, but neither side were able to break the deadlock before half time.
HALF TIME: Leeds United Women 0 – 0 Newcastle United Women
Newcastle started the second half on top, Elson testing Simpson again with a volley from range before Magpies’ top scorer Georgina Gibson tried her luck from outside the box but only found the arms of the Leeds keeper.
After a sustained spell of pressure, the hosts took the lead on 73 minutes. Their brightest spark Elson on hand to squeeze the ball home from Gibson’s cross.
Leeds kept pushing but were unable to create a challenge of note in the second half and were hit on the break late on as Newcastle doubled their lead and sealed the win.
Elson was played in, saw her first effort brilliantly saved when 1v1 with Simpson, but Newcastle kept the ball alive and Elson was there again in the box to convert.
The Whites are back on their travels next weekend, as they travel to Barton Town to face Hull City.
FULL TIME: Leeds United Women 0 – 2 Newcastle United Women
