Women’s FA Cup
Durham Cestria 0
Leeds United Women 2 (Sanderson 3’, Darcie Greene 28’)
Durham: Lydiatt (GK), Mackie (C) (Forster 55’), Gibbon, Stokes, Monkhouse, Atkinson, Ward (Rowntree 64’), Mathias, Swan, Denyer, Varah. Subs not used: Davies (GK), Penman, Eguagie, Wharton.
Leeds: Mears (GK), Legge (C), Watson (Smith 77’), Hughes, Sanderson (Cassidy 67’), Woodruff, Dean, Harris, Millard, Spencer-Smith (Dixon 61’), Darcie Greene (Coley 86’). Subs not used: Oates (GK), Drew Greene.
Venue: Shildon AFC | Referee: Nathan Alexander
Leeds United Women secured an important three points against Durham Cestria on Sunday after scoring twice in the first half.
Brittany Sanderson broke the deadlock within five minutes, before Darcie Greene was in the right place at the right time to convert a second.
Simon Wood made three changes to his team for the clash in County Durham, with Sanderson, Alice Hughes and Monique Watson returning to the starting XI.
Prior to kick-off, Shauna Legge laid a wreath in the centre of the pitch before a moment’s silence was observed, with the fixture falling on Remembrance Sunday.
The hosts almost made a dream start inside two minutes, as Mia Gibbon’s header from a corner was deflected just wide of the post.
However, in what proved to be an end-to-end opening few minutes, the Whites were the side to break the deadlock.
Sanderson, drifting into space to pick up a loose clearance inside the area, pivoted and shot low, sneaking the ball past Amelia Lydiatt and into the bottom corner to open the scoring.
Darcie Greene, looking to double the advantage inside nine minutes, then saw an effort well saved by Lydiatt as she looked to find the top corner after cutting past her marker.
With Leeds now dominating offensively, a neat move culminated in Alayna Millard and Amy Woodruff exchanging a one-two before the former fired over the bar.
The hosts responded well to the pressure from Leeds, with another corner causing problems and resulting in a Durham header striking the crossbar. Some last-ditch defending then prevented Lleucu Mathias from converting the rebound.
Continuing the relentless pressure on the Durham goal, Darcie Greene was alert to make it 2-0 to Leeds just before the half-hour mark.
Sanderson delivered a free-kick from deep towards the centre of the box, where Woodruff was lurking. The Whites' top goalscorer generated enough power with her header to beat the goalkeeper but struck the crossbar, with the ball then rolling into the path of Greene, who swept home.
Seeking a third before the break, Sanderson again delivered an excellent ball into the area, where Legge rose highest to head back across goal. Watson was lurking, but her outstretched boot couldn't divert the ball goalwards.
There were no further openings before the first half came to a close, with the referee blowing for the interval moments later.
HALF TIME: Durham Cestria 0-2 Leeds United Women
The start of the second half saw a definite change in intensity, with neither side really able to threaten in the final third.
Durham managed to muster the first chance of the half 10 minutes after the restart, with Ellen-Marie Atkinson breaking through the Leeds defence and shooting straight at Holly Mears, who held well.
Hughes then tried her luck from range, ambitiously attempting a half-volley from outside the area but clearing the bar by some distance.
Just after the 60th-minute mark, Wood looked to his bench in an attempt to put the game to bed, bringing on Chloe Dixon for Ava Spencer-Smith.
Watson almost scored the crucial third goal seconds later, shooting powerfully from close range and forcing Lydiatt into an exceptional point-blank reflex save.
Woodruff came close to creating an opportunity for herself soon after as she picked up the ball deep and broke into the hosts' half, but her strike lacked the power to trouble the goalkeeper.
With 10 minutes remaining, substitute Dixon was first to a rebounded cross and took aim, forcing a last-ditch intervention from a Durham centre-half.
Darcie Greene again tried her luck as the game entered its closing stages, breaking in behind the defence and curling an effort towards the top corner, but sending it over the bar.
However, despite Leeds continuing to force crosses into the hosts' box as the clock ticked down, there was no third goal, and Nathan Alexander blew his whistle to signal full-time.
Next up for Leeds is an FA Cup Second Round fixture against Norton & Stockton Ancients at the BD Community Stadium on Sunday 15 November.
FULL TIME: Durham Cestria 0-2 Leeds United Women
