Report: Leeds United Women 1-2 Cheadle Town | OneFootball

FA WNL Division One North

Leeds United Women 1 (Rousseau 33’)

Cheadle Town 2 (Porteous-Williams 14’, Dunlop 85’)

Leeds: Oates (GK), Legge, Smart (C), Hughes, Danby (Smith 66’), Dobson, Rousseau, Drew Greene, Woodruff, Darcie Greene, Guy. Subs not used: Simpson (GK), Turner, Gibrill-Keating, Montgomery.

Chealde: Bradley (GK), Plant (Ruddock 87), Ahmed (C), Shepley, John, Gillin, Birtwistle, Dunlop (Gindra 90’), Porteous-Williams, Dean, Houghton. Subs not used: Duce, Freeman, Ford.

Venue: Bannister Prentice Stadium, Garforth

Referee: Jessica Knapp

Leeds United Women fell to a narrow defeat at the hands of Cheadle Town in the FA WNL Division One North, despite Jess Rousseau’s superb strike in the first half.

On a mild February afternoon, the match started in lively fashion, with both sides working early opportunities as they looked to break the deadlock.

A long pass down the line from Cheadle’s Sophie John saw striker Rachael Dunlop set off in pursuit within minutes, crossing for the onrushing Imogen Porteous-Williams, but fine defending from Ellie Dobson allowed the Whites to clear their lines.

Immediately, Simon Wood’s side broke with pace, playing their way to the edge of the Stingers’ area before a powerful Amy Woodruff effort cannoned off a red shirt and away from danger.

Charlotte Oates, on her first start for United between the posts, was then called into action, making a sublime sprawling save to deny Jessica Gillin at the back post, with Porteous-Williams then firing over the bar as the visitors threatened once more.

Oates was again involved moments later, initially making a great intervention to stop Porteous-Williams’ close-range effort but, frustratingly for the hosts, the ball fell fortuitously for the forward to bundle home at the second attempt.

Looking for a quickfire response, midfielder Sarah Danby rifled an arrowed free kick towards goal, however it sailed narrowly over Emma Bradley’s crossbar. A flurry of corners then ended with an audacious, long-range effort from Darcie Greene stinging the palms of the busy stopper.

Approaching the half-hour mark, the Whites created a great opportunity when Drew Greene played Woodruff through on goal with an intricately threaded pass.

The striker raced into the area and forced a sublime diving save from Bradley. The ball cannoned back off the forward and trickled towards goal, but the retreating Natsha Shepley agonisingly hacked clear off the line.

Despite the mounting pressure from Leeds, Cheadle would have extended their lead if not for a magnificent intervention from Oates, diving to her left to grab a Porteous-Williams effort that looked destined to find the back of the net.

And how Wood’s side would reap the rewards within minutes! Rousseau, on her return to the starting line-up, collected the ball on the right flank, twisting and turning her way into the area before drilling a superb low strike beyond Bradley and into the bottom corner!

HALF TIME: Leeds United Women 1-1 Cheadle Town

Both sides emerged for the second half unchanged, starting brightly in the hunt for an important three points in the race for promotion.

The Whites looked dangerous particularly down the right, playing some intricate one-touch football; a Woodruff pass sent Drew Greene through but the versatile attacker was denied by Bradley, with the assistant’s offside flag raised regardless.

In an open, end-to-end and often frantic affair in Garforth, Porteous-Williams would have had a sight of goal if not for fine positioning from Shauna Legge allowing the United defender to clear.

Oates’ impressive debut then saw the goalkeeper scamper across the face of goal to get down well to gather Plant’s goalbound effort from a narrow angle.

The keeper was called into action on the hour mark, racing out to deny Gillin. The winger found space at the back post and struck powerfully towards the bottom corner, with Oates making another crucial save, this time with an outstretched boot.

Heading into the final 20 minutes, a first change from the bench saw creative midfielder Kath Smith introduced into the action, replacing the hard-working Danby in the engine room.

The visitors were beginning to enjoy long spells of possession though and threatened once more when Porteous-Williams capitalised on a mistake and found Dunlop in space but Oates, once again, dived to punch an effort from the edge of the area away.

Leeds were quick to throw bodies forward in search of a late winner whenever they won the ball. Rousseau and Drew Greene combined well down the left and the latter raced into the area but, under pressure from a number of red shirts, was unable to fashion a shooting opportunity.

Cheadle themselves would retake the lead five minutes from time, when Dunlop was well placed to bundle into the corner from Porteous-Williams’ pass inside the area.

The hosts gave everything in search of an equaliser but were unable to restore parity before Jessica Knapp’s full-time whistle sounded.

FULL TIME: Leeds United Women 1-2 Cheadle Town