FAWNL Division One North

Leeds United Women 1 (Smart 17’) 

Hull City Ladies 0

Leeds: Simpson, Bass (C), Hamill, Elliot, Smart, Danby, Whitham, K Smith, Brown (Price 82), Bartup (Woodruf 71), Ellis (Williams 82). Subs not used: Pomfret, Robson.

Hull: Wallace (GK), Symington, Tanser (C), Wilson, Oxley, Pollock, Bott, Ackroyd, Knight, Thompson, E Smith. Subs not used: Coles, McIntosh, Driscoll, Dealtry-Todd, Lisle.

Venue: So-Trak Stadium

Referee: V Davidson

Sent-off: Williams (Leeds) Pollock (Hull)

Rick Passmoor oversaw his side win a feisty affair against Hull City Ladies on Sunday afternoon in this Yorkshire derby, which was the first match of the 2022/23 FA Women’s National League Division One North season.

Hull, who were relegated from the Northern Premier Division last season last season, also had a new manager in the dugout with Chris Hames overseeing his side for the first time, opposite Passmoor who was doing the same. 

The Whites side started on the front foot with Abbie Brown having an early shot blocked as Leeds looked to pressure their opponents early in the game. 

Passmoor’s side did take the lead on 17 minutes, when Olivia Smart went on a mazy run and shot past Abigail Wallace, gaining a superb reward for a good start to the match at the So-Trak Stadium in Tadcaster. 

Leeds kept the pressure up with Macy Ellis shooting at the keeper, before a scare came at the other end when Rachel Ackroyd shot wide and headed over in quick succession. 

In a final couple of chances before the break, goalscorer Smart fired a free kick over before Danielle Whitham saw a similar outcome, putting over when well placed.

HALF TIME: Leeds United Women 1-0 Hull City Ladies

The second half started at the same pace as the first had ended, with Izzy Elliot blocking a shot from Ackroyd in an early chance for the visitors, who were looking to get on level terms. 

Carrie Simpson, between the posts for the Whites, then had to be alert to tip over a drive from Hope Knight before she saved smartly once again, this time from Amy Pollock. 

Leeds regrouped after a couple of early chances for the away side and kept coming forward themselves, with Kathryn Smith firing wide from the edge of the box.

Abbie Brown looked to have doubled the advantage in the closing stages, but she saw her shot blocked at the far post by the toe-end of an amber and black boot.  

The score would stay the same, but towards the end there was drama in the last three minutes as Paige Williams and Amy Pollock both saw red, reducing each side to 10 players. 

The Whites held on to their lead will be delighted to have started the season with a Yorkshire derby win, against a side tipped to be right up there fighting for promotion come the end of the season. 

Next up for Passmoor’s side is another Yorkshire derby, when they will play their first away match of the season against Barnsley next weekend. 

FULL TIME: Leeds United Women 1-0 Hull City Ladies