Report: Leeds United Women 2-0 Barnsley FC Women Leeds United

FA WNL Division One North

Leeds United Women 2 (Woodruff 13’, Hughes 16’)

Barnsley FC Women 0

Leeds: Simpson (GK), Legge, Smart (C), Hughes (Gibrill-Keating 86’), Danby, Dobson, Smith (Waldron 90’), Drew Greene (Jakeman 71’), Woodruff, Darcie Greene, Guy. Subs not used: Lockwood (GK), Price.

Barnsley: Flaherty, Evans (C), Chincharo (Rigby 51’), Woodhouse (Allard 81’), Gregory, Wilcock, Cheetham (Jex-Oldfield 70’), Buckle, Millard, Turton-Burrell, Biggins.

Venue: Bannister Prentice Stadium

Referee: Ali Rahjoo

Leeds United Women extended their winning run to four matches in the FA WNL Division One North, with a hard-fought Yorkshire derby victory over Barnsley.

In bright October sunshine at the Bannister Prentice Stadium, a whirlwind opening from the Whites proved to be the difference, thanks to well taken goals from Amy Woodruff and Alice Hughes inside the opening 16 minutes.

As both sides enjoyed large spells of possession in the game’s infancy, Darcie Greene had an early sight of goal from distance, seeing her effort claimed well by Rebecca Flaherty in the Reds’ goal.

It was United’s keeper Carrie Simpson that was next called into action, alert as she raced out to collect as Lissa Woodhouse looked to pick out the run of Lauryn Wilcock inside the area.

Simon Wood’s side were starting to dominate however, pressing intently and beginning to produce some lovely passages of play as they searched for the opener.

That pressure would tell just before the quarter hour mark when Leeds deservedly took the lead through Woodruff, showing great composure to finish confidently beyond Flaherty.

A loose clearance out from the back was picked off well by Olivia Smart, with the Whites’ captain finding the striker in space on the edge of the area. Woodruff kept her cool, drilling past the keeper and finding the back of the net against her former club.

Within minutes, the hosts extended their lead when Hughes was perfectly placed to head home from close range!

Smart and Drew Greene had initially combined with a short corner routine, before the skipper’s dangerous cross was flicked on by Shauna Legge at the front post, giving Hughes the simplest of tasks to glance in a second.

Leeds were dominating in the Yorkshire derby and the one-way traffic almost presented the home team with a third shortly afterwards as Alayna Millard’s recovering challenge nearly took it past her own goalkeeper, though Flaherty reacted well to avoid a calamitous error at the back.

The Reds’ stopper’s busy afternoon continued, saving well as Woodruff looked to double her tally for the afternoon with a powerful drive from the edge of the area towards the near post.

As a superb first half drew to a close, one that had seen the visitors limited to just a few speculative efforts from distance, Drew Greene was inches away from adding a third, with Kath Smith’s fizzing delivery narrowly evading the attacker at the back post.

HALF TIME: Leeds United Women 2-0 Barnsley FC Women

Keen to respond after struggling before the break, the Tykes started the second half brightly with Louise Biggins lashing a left-footed strike wide of the upright from the edge of the area.

Just five minutes into the second 45 however and United were back in the ascendency. Wood’s side would have had a third if not for Flaherty, with the Barnsley keeper making a fine close-range sprawling save to deny Woodruff, before the retreating Millard hacked clear.

Woodruff and Smith continued to link up well, with the forward expertly holding the ball up inside the area before then laying it off for the midfielder who saw her strike cannon off a red shirt and out of harm’s way.

Approaching the hour mark and the game began to grow into a much more even, and open, affair. Barnsley would have halved the deficit if not for a stunning low save from Simpson to preserve the clean sheet.

Biggins profited on a loose ball and weaved into the area. Her fierce strike back across goal looked destined to nestle in the far corner, only for a strong hand from Simpson to parry away the danger.

After withstanding pressure from the visitors, Leeds found success on the counter and again were denied by the impressive Flaherty, saving well to deny Drew Greene from the edge of the area.

If not for the Barnsley goalkeeper, United could, and probably would, have added to their tally on the afternoon, with the Reds’ number one making yet another crucial intervention with 10 minutes of play remaining, saving at full-stretch from Woodruff as the striker raced through on goal.

Further opportunities came for both sides as the game entered its dying stages, but neither were able to find the back of the net before referee Ali Rahjoo brought proceedings to a close.

FULL TIME: Leeds United Women 2-0 Barnsley FC Women