Match reportLeeds went top of the FA Women’s National Premier League after a comprehensive win against Nottingham Forest Ladies.

Sue Smith opened the scoring in the first minute from yet another 25-yard curling free kick. And it was a Smith free kick six minutes later that was responsible for causing confusion in the Forest defence, allowing captain – and local girl – Sophie Bradley to score her first of the season.

Bradley’s second and Leeds’s third came in much the same way; this time Remi Allen’s cross causing the damage. Allen then got the fourth thanks to a flowing one-two move with Ellen White which left the Forest players flat-footed and the game over in the first 35 minutes, although there was time for a Smith curler hit the crossbar just before the break.

Leeds eased back in the second half, but were still creating chance after chance, including a header from Jess Clarke which hit the crossbar from 2 yards, before she got Leeds’s fifth in the 74th minute.

“I’m delighted to have won all three games this week,” said Leeds manager Rick Passmoor. “Today was our most professional of the the three, the clean sheet shows we’ve firmed up at the back and we’ll be looking to rest a few tired limbs before our next game, away to Sunderland.”

Making her first team debut of the season as a substitute was reserves regular Carey Huegett. In her absence, the reserves managed a 1-1 draw at home against Preston North End Reserves

“Preston brought a lot of first team regulars today, and rightly dominated the first half,” said reserves manager Gemma Grainger. “But this is a young side in the reserves, they came back strongly in the second half and earned their draw.”

Next up for the reserves is a Premier League Cup 2nd round tie away to Manchester City, while the first team have no game until Thursday 29 October, against Sunderland, thanks to call-ups to the England squad for Sue Smith and Jess Clarke for the qualifier against Malta at Bloomfield Road, Blackpool on Sunday 25 October (kick-off 5.30pm).

Match report to follow.