Report: York City Ladies 1-4 Leeds United Women | OneFootball

FA WNL Division One North

York City Ladies 1 (Rolandsen 3’)

Leeds United Women 4 (Woodruff 15’, 87’; Hughes 33’, White 50’)

York: Sidwell (GK), Trickett (Todman 57’), Gatt, Cattle, Smith (Gore 83’), Shaw (Bentley 45’), Holder, Rolandsen (C), Ash (Hendrickson-Eastwood 46’), Blythe (Hayhurst 64’), Sykes.

Leeds: Simpson (GK), Legge, Turner, Hughes, Danby (C), Dobson, Smith (Rousseau 64’), Drew Greene, Woodruff, Darcie Greene (Waldron 89’), White (Williams 85’). Sub not used: Oates (GK).

Referee: Jessica Knapp

Booked: Gatt (York)

Venue: York Sports Athletics Stadium

Leeds United Women rounded off their FA WNL Division One North campaign with an emphatic 4-1 win over York City Ladies, ensuring a fourth-placed finish in the standings.

In longstanding midfielder Sarah Danby’s final match before retiring from club football, an Amy Woodruff brace, a header from Alice Hughes and a superb Ellie White strike from distance fired the Whites to victory in the Yorkshire derby!

United had the first opportunity on a glorious afternoon when they broke through White down the right. Skipping away from her marker, the midfielder crossed low for Woodruff who dragged a low effort narrowly wide of the far post.

Despite the early pressure, the hosts took the lead through Ocean Rolandsen with the York skipper guiding a strike into the far corner beyond Carrie Simpson after finding space inside the Leeds penalty area.

Simon Wood’s side weren’t to be behind for too long however, with Woodruff drawing the visitors level! Profiting on a mistake at the back from City, the striker raced through on goal, kept her composure and found the back of the net!

Chances then came at both ends with Jess Holder almost restoring the hosts’ lead immediately, forcing a fine save from the feet of Simpson, before Woodruff lashed a fierce drive over the upright after an electric United break.

Sidwell was beginning to become increasingly busy between the posts for the Minster Belles, firstly charging out of her goal to gather Kath Smith’s threaded pass looking for Woodruff, before doing well to parry a thunderously struck effort from the forward as Leeds searched for the lead.

The Whites wouldn’t be kept waiting for too long though, as moments later Hughes rose highest at the back post to meet an in-swinging Danby corner and power home a header!

Within seconds of the restart, the advantage was almost doubled when Drew Greene marauded into the box from the right flank and crossed into the path of Woodruff but the forward was unable to direct a first-time effort on target.

On the counter, the lively Holder then saw a speculative strike cannon off the crossbar and away from danger, before the services of defender Shauna Legge were required for Leeds, making a sublime last-ditch intervention to clear a York cross to deny the forward a certain leveller.

HALF TIME: York City Ladies 1-2 Leeds United Women

Wood’s side emerged for the second half unchanged and looking to add to their tally, whilst an alteration in personnel for York saw Emia Hendrickson-Eastwood replace Milly Ash.

The home team had the first opening after play had resumed and would have restored parity if not for a magnificent diving save from Simpson, at full-stretch to her left to tip Emily Cattle’s close-range header away from danger.

And how Leeds would reap the rewards moments later! York failed to fully clear a Danby corner from the right, landing the way of midfielder White who arrowed a superb strike into the top corner from the edge of the area!

A first change from the Leeds dugout brought Jess Rousseau into proceedings in place of Smith, with United on the front foot in the hunt for a fourth.

With just over 20 minutes of time remaining, York almost halved the deficit when Alex Gatt crossed dangerously looking for the recently introduced Imogen Hayhurst at the back post, but the ball just evaded the substitute’s reach.

The impressive Sidwell was again called into action and made a crucial intervention for the hosts. White had threaded a fine pass in behind for Drew Greene to race onto, who in turn was denied by a crucial diving save from the retreating City keeper.

It was Legge’s turn next to prove her defensive worth, getting back well to clear Hendrickson-Eastwood’s low effort off the line before, down the other end, Danby curled a low strike wide of the upright.

Woodruff would grab her second and United’s fourth in the dying minutes, nodding a dangerous Hughes delivery beyond Sidwell and into the far corner! That goal, the sharpshooter’s 18th of the league campaign, means she finishes as joint winner of the Golden Boot!

FULL TIME: York City Ladies 1-4 Leeds United Women