Amy Turner v Charlton

Leeds United Ladies maintained their lead at the top of the FA Women’s Premier League National Division with a hard-fought 4-1 win away to Aston Villa Ladies.

Although Villa had the best of the opening exchanges, it was Leeds who opened the scoring in the 7th minute, when Leah Galton ran down the right wing and passed inside for Millie Bright to score. But Leeds failed to capitalise on the early lead, and Villa made their pressure pay with an equaliser when Natalie Gibson’s superb strike from 25 yards out beat Leeds keeper Jules Draycott.

The game turned in the 50th minute when Erin Vaughan was sent off for bringing down Galton; but Villa keeper Naomi Bruton saved Clare Sykes’s penalty. Leeds made the extra player count seven minutes later when sub Carey Huegett scored, before Jess Holbrook’s 65th-minute free kick and Emma Johnson’s strike two minutes later made the points safe.

“Today we started slowly,” said Leeds manager Chris Welburn. “However we went 1-0 up with a very well worked goal after 7 minutes. For the remainder of the half we were not at our best and conceded, and while I was disappointed to concede our first goal of the season on the road, it was a cracking goal.

“Second half, we were very good and ran away with it and despite one of their players getting sent off I still think we would of won it if it was 11 against 11 as the players were very focussed at half time to get out there to improve, dominate and prove a point.”

Next up for Leeds is a top-of-the-table clash at Sunderland, who are now three points behind Leeds with a game in hand.