Vitality Women’s FA Cup

Norton & Stockton Ancients LFC 1 (Reid 37’)

Leeds United Women 2 (Nolan 3’, Smith 89’)

Norton: Chisnall (GK), Coyle, Johnson, McGuire (C), Rae, Burton, Tierney, Reid (Hodgson 77’), Owens, Patrick (Millward 62’), Basnett. Subs not used: Ellison, McSorley, Moore.

Leeds: Joyce (GK), Bass, Hamill (C), Hannon, Smart, K Hunt, Smith, Danby, Nolan (Hunter 90’), Brown (Soares-Martins 73’) Bartup. Subs not used: Wattam, Williams.

Venue: Norton Sports Complex

Referee: K. Mckitterick

A last minute winner from Kathryn Smith sent Leeds United Women through to the Vitality Women’s FA Cup Third Round, winning away at Norton & Stockton Ancients LFC on Sunday afternoon. 

With a home tie against Championship side Durham awaiting the winner in the next round, both sides were on the attack from kick off. 

The two teams were positioned next to one another in the league standings, but in this cup encounter it was all to play for. Lily Patrick fired wide for the hosts after just two minutes, showing the intent from the home side. 

Returning from injury, Aaliyah Nolan gave Leeds the lead by rounding the keeper after a fantastic through ball from Abbie Brown, putting Dan O’Hearne’s side into a third minute lead.

Patrick and Shannon Reid then both shot straight at Leeds keeper Lauren Joyce as Norton looked to respond, before Nolan was denied a second by home ‘keeper Rachel Chisnall. 

Norton kept attacking with Reid and Victoria Burton both firing over next, in an early exchange of chances. 

Leeds pushed forward themselves with Rebekah Bass seeing her strike tipped over and Olivia Smart then saw her shot dip just over the bar with the next chance. 

Norton equalised on 37 minutes when Shannon Reid volleyed in from the edge of the area, in what had been an entertaining cup tie up to this point. 

Leeds almost regained the lead before the interval when Kathryn Smith’s shot clipped the outside of the post, then the same player was denied by a smart Chisnall save, sending the teams in level. 

HALF TIME: Norton & Stockton Ancients LFC 1-1 Leeds United Women

It was one way traffic in the second period with Abbie Brown seeing her driving shot tipped onto the post early on.

As Leeds looked to keep the pressure on the hosts and find a winner, it was Brown again who had the effort, shooting wide this time. 

Coming forward from full-back, Olivia Smart saw her effort saved, as did former FA Cup finalist, Sarah Danby. 

Leeds kept pressing with first-half scorer Nolan coming close and so did second half substitute, Sandra Soares-Martins. 

The winner came in the 89th minute as Smith fired in low for Leeds and the wild celebrations were happiness and relief combined.

This was the third win in the competition up to this point, all of which had been away from home. The Whites will now face Durham next Sunday, in Tadcaster. 

FULL TIME: Norton & Stockton Ancients LFC 1-2 Leeds United Women