FAWNL Plate

Leeds United Women 3 (Brown 26’, Smart 50’, Danby 56’) 

Solihull Moors Women 1 (Hornsby 78’)

Leeds: Handy (GK), Hindle, Hamill, Hannon (C), Smart, Underdown (Price 66’), Smith (Woodruff 79’), Whitham, Brown (Williams 90’) Ellis (Robson 90’), Danby. Subs not used: Simpson.

Solihull: Savage (GK), Roberts, Bruton (Downs 66), Creaney (C), Howard, Walker, Rogers, McFadden (Taylor 64), Jarvis, Ross-Barker (Hornsby 46), Highway (Jamieson 73). Subs not used: Sloan.

Venue: So-Trak Stadium

Referee: G. Lyons  

Booked: Whitham (Leeds)

Leeds United Women moved into the Second Round of the FA Women’s National League Plate, with an excellent display at home to Solihull Moors Women on Sunday afternoon. 

Leeds came into the game on back of an impressive 5-1 win away at South Shields in the FA Cup last time out.

Manager Rick Passmoor made five changes form that team with Jen Handy, Rachel Hindle, Kanisha Underdown, Kathryn Smith and Abbie Brown all coming in for starts for this clash.  

When the match got underway, the Whites had the ball in the net on 11 minutes after great approach play by Abbie Brown, who found Sarah Danby free in the area, but the assistant referee flagged for offside after the number seven had slotted the ball into the back of the net.

Both sides continued to play passing football with Danielle Whitham having her shot blocked from the edge of the area, shortly before the breakthrough did then arrive.

Leeds took the lead on 26 minutes after a brilliant team goal. Macey Ellis first found Underdown who played a superb ball to Danby. She then found Abbie Brown free in the area to slot home and open the scoring.

Leeds nearly doubled their advantage when Ellis forced a smart save from Harley Savage on the half hour, before Underdown then saw her half volley land on top of the net as Leeds looked to press home their lead before the break.

The hosts came close again when Whitham had her shot deflected over for a corner, then down the the opposite end, Jen Handy then had to be alert to save from Annie Highway.  

HALF TIME: Leeds United Women 1-0 Solihull Moors Women

Out for the second half, Leeds carried on from the end of the first half when captain Bridie Hannon headed back to Kathryn Smith, only for Smith to see her effort cleared off the line.

The hosts made their possession count when Olivia Smart cut in from the left-hand side, before curling in an effort from 25 yards out that gave Savage no chance and double the advantage for Passmoor’s team. 

The game was played in the visiting half for the majority, with Brown forcing Savage into another save from an acute angle.

Solihull attempted to cause Leeds problems when Cheyanne Jarvis flashed a drive across the face of goal, but the Whites were dealing well with any pressure when the Yellows did come forward.

Leeds made it three and all but sealed their place in the next round, when an Ellis cross was palmed out to Danby, who fired in off the post.

Chances kept coming and Smart saw a free kick held by Savage as Leeds looked for goal number four, with Smith then denied as well for Leeds by a brilliant Savage save, before Danby then struck the bar with another effort.

Late in the game, the visitors pulled one back through substitute Emma Lee Hornsby who had her first effort saved by Handy, but tapped home the rebound into an empty net.

Despite some late pressure, Leeds eased through to second round of the competition. Next up is a top of the table clash next weekend against Durham Cestria, who currently sit second in the table.

FULL TIME: Leeds United Women 3-1 Solihull Moors Women