Report: Leeds United Women 2-1 Stockport County Ladies | OneFootball

Whites start 23/24 season with home win!

FA Women’s National League Division One North

Leeds United Women 2 (Rousseau 39’, Whitham 71’)

Stockport County Ladies 1 (Davies 23’)

Leeds: Simpson, Jakeman, Elliot, Smart (C), Pizzarello, Danby, Smith (Williams 69’), Whitham, Brown, Rousseau (Price 90’), Ellis (Bartup 69’). Subs not used: Beacock, Sykes.

Stockport: Bowness, Lysons, Weston, Lancaster, Davies, Owen, Rathburn (Mortimer 60’), Houghton, Gillin, Bradshaw, Figueiredo (Johnson 79’). Subs not used: Rawstron, Newton, Unsworth.

Venue: Bannister Prentice Stadium

Attendance: 411

Referee: Jay Isherwood

Booked: Smith, Bartup (Leeds), Weston (Stockport)

Leeds United Women started their 2023/24 FA Women’s National League Division One North season with a 2-1 win over Stockport County Ladies.

Rick Passmoor’s first XI of the season included two debutants, with full-backs Harriet Jakeman and Charlyann Pizzarello starting alongside Izzy Elliot and skipper Olivia Smart in a new-look back four.

Laura Bartup, who returned to the club this week following a spell with Hull City last season, started on the bench. Ellie Dobson, another new addition, missed out with an injury sustained in training.

The Whites found themselves behind after 23 minutes, as a positive start from the visitors was rewarded with Fran Davies poking the ball home at close range, following a corner.

County could have doubled their lead shortly after, but Maria Figueiredo blazed over from inside the box and Emily Bradshaw saw an effort well saved by Carrie Simpson.

Leeds recovered after County’s strong spell though and found themselves level on 39 minutes, after a smart finish from Jess Rousseau.

Sarah Danby’s in-swinging corner from the right wasn’t dealt with by the visitors in the near post area and Rousseau was alert, swivelling and firing into the roof of the net with her left foot, to send Leeds into the break on equal terms.

HALF TIME: Leeds United Women 1-1 Stockport County Ladies

County should have restored their lead early in the second half, when Lily Weston arrived at the back post unmarked but sliced wide on the volley.

In search of a winner, Passmoor introduced the returning Bartup on 69 minutes and her first contribution saw her win a free-kick 30-yards from goal.

Danby and Smart stood over it, with the latter sliding the ball down the side of the wall where Danielle Whitham had found a pocket of space. She fired into the back of the net to give Leeds the lead.

The Whites held firm to see out the victory, managing the game well with better possession and limiting County to few chances in the second half.

Leeds are back in action next week, with their first away trip of the season seeing them visit Staffordshire to take on Leek Town in the FA Women’s National League Cup.

FULL TIME: Leeds United Women 2-1 Stockport County Ladies