FAWNL Division One North

Norton & Stockton Ancients 1 (Owens 90+4’ pen)

Leeds United Women 2 (Brown 27’, Underdown 83’)

Norton: Chisnall, Coyle, Johnson, McGuire, Rae, Burton, Hodgson (Millward 62), Tierney, Reed, Owens, Basnett (Patrick 70). Subs not used: Moore, Wymer.

Leeds: Wattam, Hindle (Bass 78), Hannon, Hamill (C), Smart, Hunt, Danby (Robson 85) Smith (Underdown 77), Williams (Soares-Martins 65), Brown, Woodruff.

Venue: Station Road

Referee: C Jinks

Leeds United Women bounced back from two defeats in a row with an impressive away win at Norton & Stockton Ancients on Sunday afternoon, in this FA Women’s National League Division One North encounter.

It took a while for the game to get going in the North East, with Whites stopper Georgia Wattam holding onto a Sophie Hodgson header when the first chance did eventually arrive.

Rachel Chisnall then denied Amy Woodruff at the other end as Leeds went on the attack, before Hodgson then fired over this time from 15 yards out, for the hosts. 

Dan O’Hearne’s side were then offering most of the pressure in the game and when Woodruff had been fouled on the edge of the box, the following free-kick presented an excellent opportunity. 

Abbie Brown picked up the ball and with precision, curled in a free kick from 20 yards out giving Chisnall no chance between the posts for the home side.

The lively Woodruff then shot just wide herself, with Brown then striking just over from an acute angle. Woodruff then came close again, before Shannon Reed and Bianca Owens both fired over for Norton as half time arrived.

HALF TIME: Norton & Stockton Ancients 0-1 Leeds United Women

The second half followed a similar pattern to the first, with a midfield battle up to the hour mark and neither team being able to retain control for long periods.

Woodruff - who was causing Norton all sorts of problems with an impressive display - shot just wide again, before second half substitute Kanisha Mae-Underdown made the game safe for Leeds.

After being introduced from the bench moments earlier, the midfielder fired in the second of the game for her side after great approach work from Brown to create the chance.



Norton pulled one back from the penalty spot through Bianca Owens deep into stoppage, after the referee had spotted a handball.

That goal set up a nervy finish at Station Road but the Whites showed composure to see out the final seconds and hang on to a deserved three points away from home. 

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