Emma Johnson v Coventry

Leeds United Ladies made a winning start to 2012 as they pulled off a tense 3-2 victory over Reading at Throstle Nest on Sunday.

Despite having the better of the opening exchanges the hosts found themselves behind after only 15 minutes when Reading striker Melissa Fletcher took advantage of a poorly attempted clearance to stroke a low left foot volley past a stranded Jules Draycott from only 9 yards out.

The goal did little to change the pattern of the first half as the hosts continued to create chances as they pressed forward in search of the equaliser. Leeds were unlucky not to draw level on a couple of occasions as visiting keeper Hannah Rogers produced a couple of magical finger tip saves to deny Millie Bright and energetic winger Leah Galton saw her point blank near post header deflect agonizingly over the bar from a Jess Holbrook corner.

As Leeds continued to press forward the equaliser their play had justified eventually came as with 33 minutes on the clock midfielder Emma Lipman found enough space in the box to strike on target only to see her shot cannon off a defender and loop cruelly over Rogers in the Reading goal.

With momentum on their side Leeds continued to push forward and after 39 minutes earned the opportunity to take their first lead as Reading fullback Stacey Wiggins was adjudged to have brought down Leah Galton in the box. Captain Clare Sykes stepped up to take the kick and despite seeing both her initial penalty and the subsequent rebound well saved by Rogers the midfielder was finally able to score with her third attempt.

Leeds started the second half as quickly as they had started the first and doubled their lead with only three second half minutes played as striker Millie Bright capitalised on a poor Reading clearance to drive a fierce left foot shot clinically into the bottom left hand corner of the net from approximately 10 yards out.
Despite establishing a stranglehold on the game Leeds seemed to lose focus as only a minute later Melissa Fletcher calmly dispatched her second of the game having found herself in acres of space in the Leeds box.

As the second half continued neither side was able to establish a measure of control as both teams seemed to tire following their extended break over the holiday period. With chances now at a premium for both sides it was the visitors who finished the game strongest and but for some poor finishing from striker Stacie Donnelly, who missed two gilt-edged chances in the closing moments, the away side will feel unlucky not to have snatched a point.

Speaking after the game Leeds manager Chris Welburn was happy to have walked away with the win, “I was pleased to get a game under our belts after a month off. The first half performance was good, we dominated the majority of the play despite going a goal down early on. The second half saw us hanging on a bit, especially after conceding such a sloppy goal after going 3-1 up. But as always we’re happy to have collected the three points and now we can look forward to improving next week.”