FAWNL Division One North  

Leeds United Women 0

Durham Cestria 1 (Burn 23')

Leeds: Simpson (GK), Hindle, Hamill, Hannon (C), Smart, Whitham, Danby, Smith, Ellis (Soares-Martins 68'), Woodruff, Brown. Unused subs: Handy (GK), Robson, Underdown, Price.

Durham Cestria: Borthwick (GK), Knowles (C), Wilson, Elliott, Nicholson (Richardson 85'), Atkinson (Turnbull 71'), Giles (Foster 82'), Pritchard, Mackie, Winter, Burn. Unused subs: Dale, Bell (GK). 

Venue: So-Trak Stadium (Tadcaster Albion AFC)  

Referee: Ryan Dobson  

Attendance: 173

Leeds United Women’s unbeaten run came to an end as Durham Cestria inflicted their first home loss of the season.

With both sides coming into the game in fine form and at the top end of the league, a close game was expected and that is exactly what ensued at the So-Trak stadium.

A moment of individual brilliance from Sarah Burn in the first half was all that separated the two sides on a wet and windy afternoon that saw both sides struggle to gain real control of the game.

After a cagey start, it was the visitors who had the first shot on target, Erin Nicholson forcing Carrie Simpson into a fine save with a strike from the edge of the box.

Amy Woodruff led the line well for Leeds throughout, imposing her presence on the Durham centre-backs. Twice she was close to getting in on goal in the first half but was denied by superb last-ditch challenges from Grace Mackie and Megan Elliott.

It was the visitors that took the lead though on 23 minutes with a moment of brilliance from Sarah Burn, the midfielder’s left-footed strike finding the top corner from 25-yards out.

Poppy Pritchard was Durham’s main outlet, her pace causing Leeds problems on a couple of occasions, she almost made it 2-0 after getting away down the left but she flashed her effort just wide.

Leeds’ best chance of the half fell to Woodruff after a brilliant cross from Abbie Brown but the Leeds forward couldn’t connect on the volley.

The hosts then had claims for a penalty waved away with the last kick of the half when Brown flicked on Danby’s free-kick, the ball seemed to come off a Durham hand but the referee was unmoved.

HALF TIME: Leeds United Women 0-1 Durham Cestria 

A scrappy second half followed as the conditions played a big part in the game, both sides struggled to really dominate.

The closest Leeds came in the second half was Bridie Hannon’s shot from range that came back off the crossbar, but Megan Borthwick’s afternoon in the Durham goal went largely untroubled.

Simpson at the other end made a terrific reaction save with her feet to prevent Pritchard from making it 2-0. Hannon also came close to scoring at the wrong end, her sliced clearance forcing Simpson into another save to keep the score at 1-0.

Leeds pushed for an equaliser in the latter stages but everything they threw at Durham was dealt with by the visitor’s resolute defence, as Cestria held out for a win that sees them leapfrog Leeds in the table.

FULL TIME: Leeds United Women 0-1 Durham Cestria