FAWNL Cup Report: Leeds United Women vs Halifax Women | OneFootball

FA Women’s National League Cup

Leeds United Women 1 (Greene 67’)

Halifax FC Women 0

Leeds: Bowes (GK), Legge (C), Bass (Cassidy 58’), Hughes, Smith (Williams 62’), Dixon (Ogley 84’), Woodruff, Millard, Ellis (Waldron 76’), Greene, Graham. Sub not used: Mortimer (GK).

Halifax: Crosbie (GK) (Groves 73’), Phillips, Shaw, Whitham, Davies (Davenport 64’), Horner (Chan 41’), Strickland, Jacobs, Breed, Hassanin, Hollin (C). Sub not used: Cass.

Venue: Bannister Prentice Stadium, Garforth

Referee: Haim Fiterman

Bookings: Cassidy (Leeds)

Leeds United Women began their FA National League Cup campaign on Wednesday evening with a victory over West Yorkshire rivals Halifax Women at the Bannister Prentice Stadium.

Against her former club, Darcie Greene’s superbly taken effort midway inside the second half proved enough for the Whites to pick up a first three points of the Group Stage campaign!

Leeds started on the front foot with Chloe Dixon spraying a neat cross into the Halifax area and picking out Macy Ellis, who controlled it well to bring it down for a strike which was well blocked.

The visitors did however muster up an effort of their own through Phoebe Hollin’s speculative shot from distance 10 minutes in, attempting to test Frankie Bowes in the United net however the stopper made a comfortable save.

Whites’ winger Dixon was finding plenty of joy down her flank throughout the opening stages, again linking up well with Ellis in the middle who brought the ball down expertly and shaped to shoot before a late Halifax challenge intervened.

Some intricate build up play between Alayna Millard and Ellis allowed the hosts to dissect their way behind the Halifax backline, conjuring up a promising attack which looked to break the deadlock only for good positioning from Maddie Crosbie to avert the danger.

Approaching the half hour mark, Abbie Graham floated in a pinpoint cross from a corner which found the head of Kath Smith. Her powerful effort seemed destined to nestle in the back of the net but was somehow saved by the sprawling Halifax number one, tipping it away from the corner.

A superb passage of play then started all the way back with Shauna Legge on the halfway line. The defender cleverly found Dixon in space whose dangerous cross was headed narrowly over the bar by Amy Woodruff.

HALF TIME: Leeds United Women 0-0 Halifax Women

The opening stages of the second half was largely spent in the middle of the park as a physical battle between the two midfields saw few chances created.

That was until Leeds finally took the lead in style with just over 20 minutes of normal time remaining through Greene!

Initially, the versatile full-back produced a brilliant piece of skill to evade her opposite number as she raced into the area, cutting back and curling a fine finish into the far corner to net against her former club!

The Whites battled tirelessly in order to retain their well-deserved lead heading into the closing stages with Simon Wood making a few changes in personnel to bring further energy into the side.

Dixon came close to doubling the advantage late on. Beginning with Woodruff’s incredible work rate to win the ball back in the final third, she dispossessed her opponent and laid off to the winger who struck narrowly over the bar.

Despite a last-gasp scramble inside the hosts’ penalty area, the Whites held on until referee Haim Fiterman concluded the clash and blew for full time signalling an important win!

FULL TIME: Leeds United Women 1-0 Halifax Women