FAWNL Division One North

Leeds United Women 4 (Rousseau 7’, 79’; Smith 76, 90’ pen)

Chorley Women 1 (Newhouse 87’)

Leeds United: Simpson (GK), Smart (C) (Diaz 86’), Dobson, Hughes, Danby, Rousseau, Gibril-Keating (Price 75’), Jakeman, Turner, Pizzarello (Elliot 75’), Astle (Smith 63’). Sub not used: Megeary (GK).

Chorley: Finch (GK), Scarson, Tyers (Blundell 83’), Fitzpatrick, Newhouse, Taylor, Wright, Mason (Wong 68’), Cook, Parker, Walker (C) (Darbyshire 59’).

Referee: Lauren Whiteman

Booked: Rousseau (Leeds)

Venue: Bannister Prentice Stadium, Garforth

Leeds United Women put in a stellar second-half display as they brushed aside Chorley Women with a 4-1 victory at the Bannister Prentice Stadium, with striker Jess Rousseau and substitute Kath Smith each grabbing a brace.

The Whites, keen to bounce back from defeat last time out, looked like a side on a mission in the early stages, with striker Rousseau and captain Olivia Smart linking up well before a cross from the overlapping Harriet Jakeman was desperately hacked clear by a blue shirt.

Rousseau then did brilliantly to bring Charlyann Pizzarello’s lofted pass under control before being bundled to the ground on the edge of the area, presenting United with a great opportunity for an early sight of goal.

Smart stepped up to strike the resulting free kick and brought a good initial save from the visitors’ goalkeeper Mollie Finch, with Rousseau well placed to drill home the rebound and put Leeds into a well-deserved lead early on.

Chorley reacted well to their early setback, with forward Daisy Mason meeting Safron Newhouse's low cross to flick an effort on target, with Carrie Simpson on hand to parry away the danger.

Millie Fitzpatrick then found space on the edge of the area and struck a fierce effort which sailed over the bar, after good build up play from the Lancashire outfit.

After the bright response from Carmelo Ruggieri's side, the Whites wrestled back momentum as Smart went close, denied by the fingertips of Finch as she met Rousseau's delivery at the back post with a well-timed shot.

Finch was again called into action moments later, clutching Alice Hughes’ header after the Leeds midfielder inventively nodded Sarah Danby's dangerous corner from the right goalward.

Back in the ascendency, the hosts looked to grab a second after superb build up play from Sian Gibril-Keating, who danced past a Chorley player and picked out the run of Rousseau with a superb pass with the outside of her foot.

The striker charged into the box and sent an inviting ball across the face of goal looking for the onrushing Smart, with Finch smothering the ball just before the captain could tap home!

Moments before the break, Newhouse latched onto a loose pass and rounded Simpson, but a heavy touch forced the winger wide and allowed the retreating Jakeman to make a vital interception.

HALF TIME: Leeds United Women 1-0 Chorley Women

The Whites had goalkeeper Simpson to thank for preserving their lead after the restart, with the Leeds number one first on hand to make a superb reaction save to deny Charlotte Tyers from close-range, before the eventual follow up trickled inches past the post.

Simpson was then equal to Newhouse's effort from inside the area, before making a superb save with her feet to deny Megan Parker's follow up from six yards out!

Just after the hour mark, a first change from Simon Wood saw Kath Smith brought into the action, and that substitution would prove to be an inspired one shortly afterwards when she rose highest to head Leeds into a two-goal lead.

Danby, out on the left touchline, hooked a dangerous delivery in towards the front post which Smith did well to meet, glancing home past the despairing dive of Finch and into the back of the net.

Two became three within minutes, when brilliant tenacity from Smart saw the skipper win the ball back inside the visitors’ half, before charging to the edge of the area.

Her creative cut-back found Rousseau who initially dummied her way past a blue shirt, before drilling a powerful left-footed strike into the bottom corner! 

The visitors had threatened throughout the afternoon and weren’t to be denied getting on the scoresheet, when Newhouse was well-placed to finish after a scramble inside the area.

Losing their clean sheet inspired the Whites to go forward once more, attacking directly from the kick off and winning a penalty when Rousseau, having drifted over to the left flank, charged into the area and was brought down, leaving referee Lauren Whiteman with no option other than to point to the spot.

Smith stepped up and kept a cool head, calmly slotting a composed penalty into the bottom corner to grab her second of the match moments before the full-time whistle sounded!

FULL TIME: Leeds United Women 4-1 Chorley Women