Leeds United Ladies 2  Arsenal Ladies  5

Leeds United Ladies’ hopes of a fairy tale start to life in the top flight of women’s football were dashed by a quality display from treble winners in the second half of this season’s opening fixture at Bracken Edge.

United went in front against Arsenal and were level 2-2 at the break, but were second best in the second half against a team which has dominated women’s football for the best part of the last decade.

Just as at Elland Road the previous day, the heavens decided to open as the game got under way, although it has to be said that some of the lightning flashes seemed a little too close for comfort during the first half.

Arsenal had the better of the early exchanges with United penned in their own half as the visitors created a few chances.

However, United gave a warning of what was to follow when captain Karen Skillcorn picked up on a poor ball out of defence by Faye White and tried to chip Emma Byrne from 30 yards.

The keeper held that one, but she was left groping the air in despair on 13 minutes when United broke from their own half. Becky Lonergan laid the ball off to Siona Kelly who  spectacularly lobbed Byrne from 40 yards out to put United ahead.

For six glorious minutes United were in front. Then, Jayne Ludlow knocked a long ball down the right for Angela Banks to pull  the ball back inside the goalmouth where Marieanne Spacey’s goal bound strike went in despite a valiant attempt to prevent the equaliser by Laura Healey.

Charlotte Philp was then busy, coming out to smother at Spacey’s feet and then punching clear under an aerial challenge from Ludlow as Arsenal stepped up the pressure prior to their second goal which cut the United defence wide open on 28 minutes.

Ciara Grant threaded a pass into the path of Spacey, and though United thought she may have been off-side, the many times capped England player who has just retired from international football, neatly slotted the ball beyond Philp to make it 2-1.

There were times in the first half when United’s policy of working hard in the final third of the field and hassling the Arsenal defence caused the visitors to look uncomfortable as they tried to stroke the ball about.

And the equaliser came after “Jud” Gorton and Lonergan had forced the a slack pass out and Skillcorn took full full advantage to level with a fine chip shot from 35 yards out on the left.

Lonergan, a former Arsenal player, and Lucy Ward worked a neat move early in the second half which ended with Ward chipping just wide of a post.

It was a scorable enough chance and one United may have to make more of in future. For, United soon found themselves trailing again as Pauline McDonald supplied an inside  pass for the tigerish Ludlow to side step a challenge a fire home inside Philp’s left hand post from the edge of the box.

3-2 to Arsenal after 50 minutes and United’s hopes of again drawing level were not helped by the enforced substitutions of the midfield pair of Skillcorn and then Gorton. both of whom were spectators in the dugout when Grant beat Philp with a fine strike in off the bar on 72 minutes.

A minute later Casey Stoney stopped Ward breaking through and though the ensuing free kick was indirect, Stoney was shown the red card to leave Arsenal a player short.

Lisa Woodhead’s shot following the short free kick was comfortably saved. If United were to stage a grandstand finish, it really needed a goal then to set it up.

That it was well and truly all over was evident on 80 minutes.  Banks, last season’s National Division top scorer by a mile, did well to keep the ball in play in front of the visitors’ dugout and she got down the left and centred for Spacey to wrong foot Philp and complete her hat trick with a strike which flashed into the net.  

Arsenal went into the game having lifted the Charity Shield a week earlier by beating last season’s closest rivals Doncaster Belles 5-2.

It was the toughest of tough baptisms for United who now travel to Tranmere Rovers this Sunday.  Rovers lost 1-0 at the other promoted team, Brighton & Hove Albion, and United will be looking to return with at least a point ahead of their next home game which brings Charlton Athletic to Bracken Edge on Sunday 2nd September.

Charlton beat Sunderland 4-1 and look as if they may be the team to push Arsenal closest in this season’s title race.

After the match United presented a bouquet of flowers to Arsenal and former England international Clare Wheatley whose playing career was ended by the knee injury she suffered in the Charity Shield a week earlier.

Leeds United:
Philp, Healey, Hagerty-Crosse, Wingate, Formstone, Gorton (Daniel, 67m), Woodhead, Skillcorn (Pollard, 55m), Lonergan, Ward, Kelly (Parker, 79m)
Unused subs: Grundy, Bevan.