FAWNL Division One North

Durham Cestria 3 (Atkinson 26’, Neuefeind 38’, Giles 87’)

Leeds United 2 (Astle 22’, Elliot 90’)

Durham Cestria: King (GK), Knowles (C), Elliot, Atkinson, Giles, Neuefeind, Donald, Mackie, Winter (Brown 20’), Bell, Holmes (Rowell 69’). Subs not used: Gibbon, Richardson, Clarke.

Leeds United: Megeary (GK), Jakeman (Waldron 79’), Pizzarello, Turner, Dobson, Hughes, Price (Elliot 90’), Danby, Smart (C), Smith (Langstaff 74’), Astle (Rousseau 56’). Subs not used: Simpson (GK).

Referee: David Mitchell

Venue: Ford Football Hub

Leeds United Women fell to a narrow defeat on Wearside, as they were edged out 3-2 by promotion-chasing Durham Cestria at the Ford Football Hub.

Despite a bright start in the North East which the Whites dominated possession early on, the hosts had the first clear-cut chance of the game after a quick counter won them a free kick on the right.

Jen Knowles floated a deep free kick into the danger area which United keeper Abi Megeary saved initially. On the rebound, the ball fell for Jordan Atkinson and then Abby Holmes, who saw efforts blocked heroically on the line by Ellie Dobson and Lucy Turner before Leeds cleared their lines.

Those defensive efforts were to be rewarded down the other end on the 22^nd minute, when Katie Astle grabbed her second goal in as many games. The forward found space at the front post to bundle home Olivia Smart’s low cross after good link up play between Smart and Sarah Danby in the build-up.

The lead was to be a short lived one however, when Atkinson drew the hosts level as her effort from the right wing sailed rather fortuitously into the back of the net.

There was nothing fortunate about Cestria's second just before the break, when Vicky Neuefeind stepped up to curl a stunning left-footed free kick over the wall and past the despairing dive of Megeary.

The hosts then had a chance to extend their lead before the break through Holmes, but the Cestria forward lashed over on the half-volley moments before the referee brought the first half to an end.

HALF TIME: Durham Cestria 2-1 Leeds United

The Whites came out after the interval looking to get back on level terms, with Kath Smith first trying her luck from range with a powerful effort from outside the area.

The strike looked to be flying towards the top corner, only to be blocked by the head of Megan Elliot, not that the Cestria defender knew too much about it!

Neuefeind, looking for her second of the match, was then denied after great defending from Turner. The Whites immediately sprung the counter and worked it out wide to Smart on the left wing.

Cutting inside onto her stronger right foot, the skipper whipped a ball in looking for Jess Rousseau, but the striker was unable to guide it home at full stretch on her return from injury.

Harriet Jakeman was then needed on defensive duties for Wood's side, clearing the ball in the nick of time as Neuefeind lurked at the back post looking to get on the end of a dangerous delivery from the right.

Erin Brown almost extended the home team's lead with a powerful drive from range, with Megeary making a superb finger-tip save to parry the ball behind for a corner. From the resulting set-piece, Durham had the ball in the back of the net but an offside flag on the far side, much to the dismay of Cestria's players, kept United in touching distance.

Into the last 10 minutes, Rousseau was unlucky to not score an equaliser after she brought down Ruby Waldron's cross inside the area. Taking a touch to compose herself, she rounded Anna King but, stumbling, was unable to guide the ball home.

Leanna Giles then added a third for promotion-chasing Durham, latching onto a loose pass and firing low into the far corner.

The Whites did grab a late lifeline when substitute Izzy Elliot was well placed to instinctively tap home after Rousseau's shot was well saved by King, but it was to be too little too late as the hosts held on to win a hard-fought encounter.

FULL TIME: Durham Cestria 3-2 Leeds United