REPORT: Leeds United Women 3-2 Bradford City Women

REPORT: Leeds United Women 3-2 Bradford City Women

Whites take all three points in Yorkshire derby

FA Women’s National League Division One North

Leeds United Women 3 (Woodruff 59’, Rousseau 62’ 65’)

Bradford City Women 2 (Stuart 68’, Parnham 79’)


Leeds United Women: Simpson (GK), Robson (Hindle 62’), Hamill, Hannon, Smart (C), Whitham, Smith, Williams, Ellis, Rousseau, Brown (Woodruff 54’). Subs not used: Elliott, Underdown, Thomas. 

Bradford City Women: Starting XI: Whelan (GK), Jakeman, Woodcock, Norde (Lambert 84’), Harris, Ramsden, Allmann (Davies 46), Stube (C), Stuart, Parnham, Watkins. Subs not used: Kirkham (GK), Trickett, Jacobs.


Referee: K Donaghey

Booked: Brown (Leeds)


Venue: So-Trak Stadium 

Attendance: 246


A blistering ten-minutes spell in the second half saw Leeds United Women make it back-to-back Yorkshire derby wins at the So-Trak Stadium, with a 3-2 victory over Bradford City.

The visitors came into the game looking to make another step towards safety, they sat the wrong side of the relegation zone but had boosted their chances of survival with recent victories over tenth placed Chorley.

The Whites were looking to build on Wednesday’s 2-0 win over York City and take some momentum into next weekend’s FA Women’s National League Plate Cup Final against Stourbridge and Rick Passmoor unsurprisingly named an unchanged team after an impressive team performance last time out.

Experienced Bradford midfielder Charlotte Stuart had the first effort of the game from a free-kick but Carrie Simpson was able to make a routine catch. 

At the other end, Jess Rousseau forced Tiffany Whelan into a smart save with her feet and the Bradford stopper also had to be alert to palm Abbie Brown’s strike past the post on 21 minutes.

That was the best either side could muster up in a scrappy first half in which both teams struggled to take control of the game.

HALF TIME: Leeds United Women 0-0 Bradford City Women

The second half couldn’t have been more different to the first with action at both ends. Bradford’s Jess Watkins wasted a golden chance to open the scoring on 52 minutes, hitting the post with an open goal to aim for after Simpson had scuffed a clearance, and City would rue that miss.

Leeds boss Passmoor acted quickly, bringing Amy Woodruff off the bench on 54 minutes and the substitution would pay dividends within just five minutes, as the forward opened the scoring.

Macy Ellis flashed a cross in from the right and Woodruff got across her marker and flicked the ball into the bottom corner.

Leeds wasted no time in doubling their lead, Rousseau expertly firing in off the post less than three minutes later, almost a carbon copy of her goal from Wednesday night.

It was three on 65 minutes as a flurry of goals saw Leeds take complete control, Rousseau making it a brace for herself with the pick of the goals, a superb lob on the half volley after Whitham’s lofted pass. 

Bradford refused to lie down though and got one back on 68 minutes, making it four goals in the game in 9 minutes. Stuart timed her run into the box to perfection and glanced a header past Simpson.

Leeds went in search of a fourth to restore their three goal lead and came close when Ellis’ teasing cross just evaded Woodruff’s head. 

Rousseau was then within the width of the post of claiming her hat-trick on 70 minutes and was denied again on 72 minutes, the ball dropped kindly to her in the box but Whelan saved well with her feet once again. 

The visitors reduced the deficit again on 79 minutes when Arrianne Parnham danced into the box before converting a superb solo goal to heap the pressure on Leeds in the late stages. 

Leeds managed the last ten minutes well though to hold on to the three points and head into next weekend’s FA Women’s National League Plate Final off the back of two Yorkshire derby victories. 

Stourbridge are the opposition at Solihull Moors’ ARMCO Arena, kick-off 3:30pm, ticket information for supporters can be found by clicking here.

FULL TIME: Leeds United Women 3-2 Bradford City Women

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