FA Women’s National League Division One North
Stockport County Ladies 1 (Lancaster 81’
Leeds United Women 1 (Smith 51’
Stockport: Heap (GK), Lancaster, Davies, Owen (C) (Thompson 90+7’), Rathburn (Watson 62’), Greenhalgh (Podmore 77’), Battle (Iddon 84’), Bradshaw, Wilson, Fletcher, Turkington. Subs not used: Hobson.
Leeds: Starting XI: Simpson (GK), Millard (Dawson 83’), Legge (C), Cassidy, Darcie Greene, Hughes, White, Smith (Graham 81’), Dixon, Woodruff, Drew Greene (Smart 90+7’). Subs not used: Oates (GK), Elliott, Williams, Ellis.
Venue: Edgeley Park
Referee: Gavin Hill
Bookings: N/A
Attendance: 1,070
Leeds United Women held to 1-1 draw away at Stockport County Ladies in final day action on Sunday, finalising their FA WNL Division One North campaign.
Kath Smith had scored the opener five minutes after the restart, but the hosts drew level with 10 minutes of normal time to play to share the spoils.
Ahead of kick off, Simon Wood named an unchanged starting XI from last time out, the only changes coming on the bench as Ruby Dawson and Olivia Smart take to their seats in the dugout.
Carrie Simpson was the first goalkeeper to be called into action in the early stages, as she palmed Kenedy Owen’s effort from outside the box around the post from a corner following a half-cleared corner.
10 minutes later in a tense opening, Emily Bradshaw was found by a searching pass but fired wide of the goal from distance. Immediately after, Ellie White found Amy Woodruff in the box, but she was dispossessed crucially before getting her shot away.
Chloe Dixon nearly found the back of the net shortly after, if not for a Stockport defender on the line, as she pounced on a loose ball and fired on target, forcing a necessary intervention on the line from the centre-half.
Looking to take control of the game, the Whites came forward again, winning a corner on the right wing. After the initial ball was cleared, Kath Smith was found on the edge of the area, forcing a good save from Freya Heap as the ball looped towards goal.
Five minutes before the break, Shauna Legge darted into the hosts’ half. The Leeds skipper beat two Stockport players before taking aim but dragging her strike wide of the target.
Moments before Gavin Hill blew his whistle, Stockport came close on two occasions – forcing a last-ditch deflection wide and heading over from the resulting corner – but neither found the back of the net and the half ended goalless.
HALF TIME: Stockport County Ladies 0-0 Leeds United Women
The Whites came out for the second half with intent, and that was rewarded five minutes after the restart as Legge’s lofted ball to Woodruff was flicked into the path of Smith, who broke into the box and rolled the ball past Heap to break the deadlock!
Woodruff nearly got on the scoresheet shortly after, twisting and turning on the edge of the box before letting fly, but clearing the bar with her strike.
As Leeds looked to double their advantage, they came forward through Woodruff again, who cut inside from the left wing before aiming for the top corner, but her strike narrowly evaded the target.
With the clock ticking into the last 10 minutes, the hosts found a leveller through Gemma Lancaster, who headed home from a corner.
Seeking to immediately retake the lead, Dixon stepped up to a free kick from a decent position. Aiming for the top corner, her strike wrapped up around the post and behind for a goal kick.
After some brilliant interplay in the box between Darcie Greene, Woodruff and Dixon, Abbie Graham received the ball close to the goal, forcing a crucial low stop from Heap in net.
Deep into stoppage time, Smart made her long-awaited return to the pitch, replacing Drew Greene.
Despite the late pressure, it wasn’t to be for the Whites, who were forced to settle for a point in their final league fixture of the season.
Attentions now turn to the West Riding FA County Cup final in two weeks’ time, where Leeds will be looking to retain the trophy after success last campaign.
FULL TIME: Stockport County Ladies 1-1 Leeds United Women
