REPORT: Leeds United Women 3-4 Halifax FC Women
Leeds fall short against NPD opposition.
FA Women’s National League Cup 1st Round
Leeds United Women 3 (Astle 72’, Rousseau 85’ 89’)
Halifax FC Women 4 (Legge 6’, Boydell 11’ 54’, Willis 45+3’)
Leeds United Women: Simpson (GK), Jakeman Dobson, Elliott, Smart (C), Danby, Whitham, Smith, Bartup (Waldron 85’), Rousseau, Astle (Gibrill-Keating 81’). Subs not used: Kirkham (GK), Beacock.
Halifax FC Women: Flaherty (GK), Boydell (Cook 55’), Legge, Dean, Kemp, Darcie Greene (Wilcock 65’), Watson (O’Connor 75’), Ramsden (Norde 70’), Drew Greene, Stevens (Wilson 91'), Willis.
Venue: Bannister Prentice Stadium, Garforth
Attendance: 292
Referee: Oliver Holland
Booked: Dean, Kemp, Wilcock (sin-bin), Mitchell (not on field), Wilson (Halifax)
Leeds United Women were knocked out of the FAWNL Cup as Halifax FC Women edged an entertaining game at the Bannister Prentice Stadium.
The Whites found themselves 4-0 down shortly after half time but showed fantastic spirit against their higher-league opposition and almost completed an incredible comeback to force the game to penalties.
Simon Wood made three changes from the side that defeated Chester FC last weekend, with Laura Bartup and Ellie Dobson coming into the starting eleven in place of injured Charylann PIzzarello (ribs) and Lucy Turner (cup-tied), changes which saw Olivia Smart return to left-back, with Bartup joining the forward line. Dobson a straight swap at centre-back. Carrie Simpson returned in goal with Skye Kirkham on the bench.
Halifax gave two debuts to new signings Meg Boydell and Courtney Willis after the duo recently signed from Northern Premier Division leaders Burnley.
It was a fast and furious start to this West Yorkshire derby as both sides started brightly. Monique Watson fired over after less than a minute for the visitors before Carrie Simpson was called upon to claim Drew Greene’s cross.
At the other end, Kath Smith’s dangerous delivery was well claimed by Becky Flaherty.
It was the visitors who took the lead though after the frantic start. Halifax made the first contact from a free-kick, the ball fell to Watson who was denied by Simpson at point-blank range but Shauna Legge was there to fire into the roof of the net on six minutes.
It was 2-0 on 11 minutes, this time Boydell found the back of the net directly from a free-kick.
Leeds were clearly up against it early on and they had to weather a further storm as Halifax looked to extend their lead. Nicole Kemp was so unlucky as her effort from 30 yards crashed back off the post and Harriet Jakeman did extremely well to deny Watson with a last-ditch tackle.
The Whites started to grow into the game from there and there were some positive signs before half time, Sarah Danby started to see more of the ball in midfield, whilst Ellie Dobson and Kath Smith both had efforts from range but didn’t trouble Flaherty.
Simpson was kept busy as Issy Dean’s header had to be saved on 25 minutes but Leeds were enjoying their best spell of the half.
Danielle Whitham saw a powerful effort blocked before Rousseau was just inches away from providing a telling touch to Astle’s cross.
Simpson produced a stunning save on 45 minutes as Georgia Stevens’ effort was palmed away, before a dramatic final minute of the half saw Halifax extend their lead.
Leeds had a big penalty shout waved away as Laura Bartup dummied inside the box and the ball looked to come off the hand of Dean, but the referee waved appeals away and the Eagles broke to make it 3-0.
A cross from the left fell kindly to Willis who slotted in a debut goal and gave Leeds a mountain to climb in the second half.
HALF TIME: Leeds United Women 0-3 Halifax FC Women
The visitors netted a fourth early in the second half and it was the pick of the goals, after some good football down the left, the ball was cut back to Boydell who drilled low and hard into the bottom corner from the edge of the box.
Leeds refused to lie down though and got one back on 72 minutes, some quick thinking from Jakeman saw her throw-in release Rousseau, she crossed to Bartup whose glancing header came back off the post and Astle was on hand to finish.
Less than a minute later Bartup was involved again, her low strike with her left foot forced Flaherty into a fine save down to her left.
Danby was next to force Flahety into a save, her left footed effort from range was a little more comfortable for the Eagles’ stopper, before Izzy Elliott couldn’t keep her header down from a corner.
Leeds got another back on 85 minutes, a typically clinical finish from Rousseau after she found herself 1v1 with Flaherty, and she found the back of the net again on 89 minutes.
This one an even better finish from inside the box, as the ball dropped her way she steadied herself and expertly placed it into the corner, her 13th of the season.
Halifax were wobbling under Leeds’ pressure as we entered stoppage time, with manager Rob Mitchell booked and substitute Lauryn Wilcock sin-binned for over-the-top protestations of Leeds’ third goal, but the Whites couldn’t take advantage, falling just short of a stunning comeback as the Eagles advanced into the 2nd `Round with a 4-3 win.
The Whites are back in action next weekend as they face league-leaders Barnsley in another Yorkshire derby clash.
FULL TIME: Leeds United Women 3-4 Halifax FC Women
