FAWNL Division One North

Leeds United Women 1 (Smart 63’)

Barnsley Women 1 (Biggins 21’)

Leeds United: Simpson (GK), Smart (C), Dobson, Hughes, Danby, Rousseau (Bartup 74’), Smith (Gibril-Keating 63’), Jakeman, Turner, Pizzarello, Astle (Waldron 81’). Subs not used: Megeary (GK), Price.

Barnsley: Clarke (GK) (C), Housley, Marshall, Stewart, Pierrepont, Watson, Jex-Oldfield, Housecroft (Barringham-Beck 68’), Axton (Hawarth 83’), Biggins (Shaw 72’), Nutall.

Referee: Isabel Danson

Booked: Smith, Jakeman (Leeds) Stewart, Housley, Pierrepont (Barnsley)

Venue: Bannister Prentice Stadium, Garforth

Leeds United Women came from a goal down to earn a hard-fought draw against Barnsley Women in Garforth, as captain Olivia Smart cancelled out Louise Biggins’ first-half opener.

The Whites started on the front foot and went close early on through Charlyann Pizzarello who shot wide from distance.

Deployed in a different role out on the right flank, the Gibraltar international cut in-field and tried her luck from 30 yards, but Serena Clarke in the Barnsley net was untroubled as it sailed past the post.

Jess Rousseau then worked a yard of space in the box after Simon Wood’s side launched a quick counter and lifted the ball over Clarke, only for the forward to see her effort to fly narrowly wide.

Barnsley should have taken the lead after a quarter of an hour, when Rosie Axton did well to intercept Carrie Simpson's pass. With the goal gaping, the Reds forward dragged her effort onto the post and United cleared their lines.

The visitors weren’t to be denied an opener for too long however, when striker Biggins rose highest at the near post to power home a close-range header after meeting a dangerous delivery from the right.

Yorkshire derbies tend to be fiery affairs and this would prove to be no different, with referee Isabel Danson kept busy in the middle as challenges flew in from both sides.

The Whites looked to respond to Biggins' opener and Rousseau went close once more before the break, seeing an effort blocked by a red shirt after good play down the left from Katie Astle.

HALF TIME: Leeds United Women 0-1 Barnsley Women

Biggins, who had led the line well for the visitors throughout, almost turned provider after the restart, flicking on a cross at the near post to Emily Pierrepont in front of goal.

The forward looked destined to score as she shot early, but Simpson scrambled across to make a wonderful diving save to keep the Whites within touching distance.

In just a matter of moments, that save would prove crucial as Leeds levelled things up, when Smart's in-swinging corner from the left looped over Clarke and nestled in the far corner.

The Leeds skipper was keen to grab her second of the afternoon shortly afterwards, cutting in-field to shoot from distance but Clarke, this time, was equal to her effort.

A flurry of changes and yellow cards would follow in the dying minutes as both sides looked to find a winner and earn the bragging rights, with Autumn Housley's speculative effort from 35 yards the closest sight of goal for either team.

FULL TIME: Leeds United Women 1-1 Barnsley Women