FAWNL Division One North

Hull City Ladies 4 (Tanser 37’, Ackroyd 48’, Lynskey 60’, Knight 75’)

Leeds United Women 3 (Rousseau 16’, Whitham 53’, Smith 56’ pen)

Hull: Wallace (GK), Wilson, Jackman, Bott, Tanser (C), Thompson (Brookes 81’), Ackroyd (Brierley 87’), Hunt, Dawson, Lynskey, Knight. Subs not used: Wattam (GK), Watters, Copsey. 

Leeds: Kirkham (GK), Jakeman (Hindle 65’), Turner, Smart (C), Pizzarello, Whitham, Smith (Astle 81’), Danby, Dobson, Bartup, Rousseau. Subs not used: Simpson (GK), Price, Fox.

Venue: Easy Buy Stadium

Attendance: 505

Referee: J. Hearn

Booked: Dawson, Knight, Wallace (Hull) Jakeman, Bartup (Leeds)

Sent-off: Dawson (Hull)

Leeds United Women made the short trip to Hull City Ladies on Sunday afternoon in a Yorkshire derby league clash. 

The two teams were fighting at the top end of the table coming into the game, whilst still in the early stages of the 2023/24 campaign.

Simon Wood made two changes to the side which had comfortably beaten Peterborough United Women away from home last weekend in the cup.  

The Whites began quickly and looked to settle on the ball early on, pushing the hosts back into their own half and controlling much of the possession.

In superb form so far this season, the pressure paid off when top-scorer Jess Rousseau controlled the ball in the box before settling herself to fire home, just 16 minutes in. 

The goal owed much to the build up play of Sarah Danby and Ellie Dobson, who combined brilliantly in the build-up to create the chance. 

As the game edged closer to the break, the home side would start to offer pressure of their own, which resulted in an equaliser. Breaking quickly down the left-hand-side, a low cross into the middle found home skipper Ellie Tanser, who tucked the ball away at the near post. 

A battling first half on the banks of the Humber was brought to a close, with the game level and all to play for the in the second half. 

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

Out for the second 45 minutes in East Yorkshire, the second half would become a goal fest, with chances coming at either end in the blazing sunshine. 

Just four minutes in, Rachael Ackroyd put the home side ahead in the match. She seized on a loose ball just outside the box and struck low, beyond Skye Kirkham into the back of the net.  

Straight back on the attack, Leeds quickly equalised. Danielle Whitham had been denied moments earlier, but nothing stopped this one as he curled into the bottom corner from the edge of the box. 

Two minutes later, the Whites then went back into the lead! Bartup was fouled in the box and a penalty was awarded. Kath Smith stepped up and slotted it away with composure. 

With Leeds now in front, just another two minutes later and huge controversy came. Bartup again caused chaos and raced into the box and was clearly taken down for a second time, but nothing was given.

That let-off for Hull allowed them to go straight down the other end and level the scores once again. This time it was Helen Lynskey well positioned, to head home at close range. 

In a continuous battle and hard-fought match, the home side then regained the lead, as Hope Knight was in the right place at the right time to slot home a fourth for Hull.

Entering stoppage time, the home side were down to 10 players following the dismissal of Ruby Dawson for a second yellow card. Katie Astle had the last chance of the game in added time, striking the post and seeing the ball go agonisingly wide before the whistle was blown.

Leeds will now return to action on Wednesday evening, when they take on FC United of Manchester in a home league match, at the Bannister Prentice Stadium in Garforth.

FULL TIME: Hull City Ladies 4-3 Leeds United Women