Leeds United Ladies 1-2 Cardiff City Ladies
Sunday 19 August 2012
at Farsley AFC
Carey Huegett v Cardiff
The opening day of this season’s Women’s Premier League saw Leeds United Ladies surrender a 1-0 lead late on as they slumped to a disappointing 2-1 home defeat to Cardiff.
The game had started out brightly for the hosts as in the eighth minute forward Tanya Rich capitalised on some poor Cardiff marking to neatly head home her first of the season. The forward showed great strength to score as she battled her way to the near post before glancing a ferocious header in off the underside of the cross bar from an in-swinging Jess Holbrook corner.
The goal seemed to settle Leeds as they quickly began to take a stranglehold on the game. However despite having the best of the first half territory and dominating possession Leeds failed to turn those advantages into many clear cut chances.
On the one first half occasion when Cardiff threatened an equaliser, Leeds keeper Jules Draycott produced a wonderful full stretch finger tip save to acrobatically deny Paige Stewart’s well struck twenty five yard volley.
Immediately prior to halftime Leeds came agonizingly close to doubling their advantage as some vintage one touch build up play put last season’s top scorer Carey Huegett clear in the box, only to see her shot miraculously blocked by the covering defender.
Three minutes into the second half Leeds came even closer to doubling their advantage as energetic midfielder Jess Holbrook found herself one on one with the keeper only to see Cardiff keeper Rhian Noles brilliantly nick the ball from her feet as Holbrook attempted to go round her.
Leeds continued to push on and could count themselves unlucky on two further occasions when second half substitute Abbie McIver flashed a pair of great crosses only inches in front of the oncoming Leeds attackers.
Ultimately Leeds failure to kill off Cardiff came back to haunt them as the determined visitors caught Leeds napping with a 79th minute equaliser. Cardiff forward Bethan Lloyd raced through unmarked following a length of the field break away to flash a well-struck left foot strike underneath a wrong footed Jules Draycott.
That goal seemed to knock the stuffing out of Leeds as Cardiff pressed forward in search of a winner. With only three minutes of the ninety remaining, Cardiff snatched an unlikely victory as centre back Louise Hutton powered home a header, having found herself unmarked following a Paige Stewart corner.
Speaking after the game, Leeds’ new manager Andy Burgess was clearly upset by the result, “It’s obviously a very disappointing way to start the season. There were times when we showed glimpses of what we want to do but ultimately our inconsistent execution and poor decision-making meant we failed to turn our good possession into enough chances. We’ll have to knuckle down and pick ourselves up ready for Coventry next week.”
That game will take place at Ossett Town’s ground, rather than Throstle Nest, with kick-off at 2pm.
