Millie Bright v Bradford Park Avenue in the first round

Three first half goals helped Leeds United Ladies progress to the quarter final stage of the West Riding County Cup.

Although Leeds had much the better of play throughout the game, Huddersfield held them off until the 23rd minute, when Jess Holbrook fashioned a 40-yard left-to-right pass to Sarah Danby, who played the ball through for Carey Huegett to drive into the box and fire home.

Leeds continued to put Town keeper Laura Carter under pressure, eventually doubling the lead when Emma Johnson spectacularly lobbed Carter from 18 yards out, wide on the left.

While Carter could have prevented the second goal she was at fault for the third, three minutes later, when she failed to hold on to a fierce shot from Emma Lipman and allowed the ball to spill from her hands and bounce over the goal-line.

Yet Carter was also the key to stopping Leeds turning the game into a rout, as she pulled off a string of saves midway through the second half; and although Lipman got her second with another thumping strike in the 58th minute, it wasn’t until the 83rd that Danby completed the scoring when a wildly spinning ball evaded everyone, running through to the far past for her to prod home from a few yards out.

“I’m pleased that, as defending champions, we’re through to the last eight,” said Leeds manager Chris Welburn. “Huddersfield Town acquitted themselves well, and provided us with a stern test for the full 90 minutes, as you’d expect from a side doing as well as they are this season. I only wish them the best for the rest of the season.

“For Leeds, we take the momentum with us into our next game, at home in the league next Sunday to Charlton Athletic Women.”