FAWNL Division One North  

Chorley Women 3 (Nickson 37’, Gillin 45’ Foy 53’)

Leeds United Women 1 (Woodruff 16’)   

Chorley Women: Bradley (GK), Catlow, Nickson, Devins, Hickson, Searson, Bell (Mackay 68’), Ball (Hyland 75’), Foy (Cleary 85’), Gillin, Wawter. Subs not used: Derbyshire.

Leeds United Women: Simpson (GK), Robson (Hindle 46’), Hamill (Thomas 75’), Hannon, Smart, Underdown (Whitham 75’), Williams, Smith, Ellis (Brown 32’), Rousseau, Woodruff (Danby 56’).

Venue: Blainscough Park 

Attendance: 84

Referee: J Shillock

Leeds United Women fell to a 3-1 defeat to Chorley, on a frustrating day in Lancashire. 

Rick Passmoor made three changes from the side that won the FA Women's National League Plate Final last weekend, as Savanna Robson, Kanisha Underdown and Jess Rousseau came in to start in place of Rachel Hindle, Danielle Whitham and Abbie Brown, who all dropped to the bench.

The Whites started well, Rousseau had a chance from a well worked corner routine but she couldn’t connect cleanly, before Macy Ellis forced Chorley keeper Emma Bradley into action with a low cross that was well claimed.

Leeds made their good start count on 16 minutes, Amy Woodruff was alert in the box to clinically find the bottom corner after some hesitant defending from Chorley.

The Magpies responded well though and dominated the remainder of the half. Melissa Ball almost made it 1-1 on the half hour mark but Cath Hamill read the danger brilliantly to get back on the line to block her goal-bound volley.

Carrie Simpson then made a smart save on 36 minutes, tipping Emma Hickson’s volley over the bar, but from the resulting corner Kerry Nickson powered home a header to level the scores.

Chorley had all the momentum and we’re growing in confidence. On 45 minutes, a mistake in possession gifted the Magpies the ball in a dangerous area and they punished Leeds, Jess Gillin arriving in the box to convert and make it 2-1.

Gillin was hurt in the process which meant there was a lengthy period of added time at the end of the first half and Chorley would take advantage of that, as Grace Foy made it 3-1 on 53 minutes with the pick of the goals, a stunning strike from outside the box which Simpson could only watch fly past her into the top corner.

HALF TIME: Chorley Women 3-1 Leeds United Women

With plenty of work to do in the second half, Rick Passmoor turned to his bench and brought on Sarah Danby and Rachel Hindle at half time.

Hindle almost made an immediate impact too, as her cross found Hamill who thought she had headed home her first goal of the season, only for the linesman’s flag to spoil the celebrations.

Long range efforts from Paige Williams and Olivia Smart were the best Leeds could create in a stop-start second half, in which they failed to cause Bradley in the Chorley goal any problems.

The Magpies managed the game well to keep the scoreline at 3-1, securing back to back wins which has given their survival hopes a huge boost.

Passmoor and the squad will be looking for a response on Wednesday evening, when they host Norton & Stockton Ancients at the So-Trak Stadium.

FULL TIME: Chorley Women 3-1 Leeds United Women