Leeds United Ladies FC 5-3 Derby County Ladies FC
FA Women’s Premier League North
Sunday 01.09.13 at Ingfields
Striker Carey Huegett netted twice for Leeds as they picked up their first victory under new manager Neil Ross with an entertaining 5-3 win over Derby County on Sunday.
Playing at Osset Town’s Ingfields Stadium due to a fixture clash at Throstle Nest, Leeds quickly adapted to their new surroundings as they stormed out of the blocks to open up a two goal cushion after only 11 minutes of play.
Huegett, one of only four players to return to the club following last season’s failed WSL bid, was first to strike as she confidently converted a 4th minute penalty. The forward picking herself up to take the spot kick after earning the kick when flattened between two Derby defenders in the right hand corner of the box.
Seven minutes later Sarah Lawn notched her first goal for Leeds as she neatly poked home a corner from 8 yards out. The wingback showing great awareness to react quickest to a bouncing ball in the box.
Clearly buoyed by their early success Leeds flooded forward and created numerous further chances. Olivia Smart headed wide on 16 minutes before Huegett once again caused problems on 22 minutes by beating two as she cut in from the left, only to be crowded out when eventually trying to shoot.
As the first half progressed Derby grew into their task and gave notice of their talent in front of goal when Hannah Ward went close to pulling one back after 32 minutes. The lively midfielder jinking past two before narrowly missing the target from the edge of the box.
Sparked by Ward’s near miss Leeds pressed forward again and showed glimpses of some high quality football. Olivia Thackray, Abbie Lee and Jodie Hartley all tried their luck from distance to no avail before Hartley put Thackray clean through on goal only for the influential midfielder to be given offside.
With almost the final kick of the first half Derby clawed themselves back into the game as striker Cara Newton brilliantly headed home a near post corner to make it 2-1.
After receiving their halftime analysis Leeds noticeably upped the tempo in the second half and restored their two goal cushion soon after the restart as Olivia Thackray thumped home her second goal in as many games. The midfielder expertly lobbing the keeper from outside the box with a looping left foot volley.
Unperturbed by the setback Derby answered straight back as Mel Johnson lashed home from distance. The impressive striker finding the bottom corner with a low 50th minute drive.
Seven minutes later Leeds once again restored their two goal advantage as Carey Huegett added her second. The forward finishing an incisive counter attacking move with a perfectly judged lob over the advancing keeper.
In the 62nd minute second half substitute Abbie McIver capped her return to first team action with a goal as Leeds added their fifth. The pacey midfielder finishing a wonderful team move with a near post header following neat link up play between Huegett and Thackray.
To their credit Derby continued to battle and scored a late consolation goal on 84 minutes as Nikki Legister neatly guided home a well delivered Newton cross to make the final score 5-3.
“It’s a very positive result for us,” commented Leeds Manager Neil Ross after the game. “I thought we kept the ball well and at times played some really nice football. We definitely need to work on our fitness and we won’t get carried away but it’s nice to get that first win under our belts. I also just wanted to give a special mention to Abbie McIver who came back to score today after several months out through injury. It’s great to see her back playing and long may her goal scoring continue.”
You can see how all the action unfolded in Jamie’s Live Match Feed below…
That’s it – all over and Leeds win 5-3! First win of the season in the books.
We’re into injury time now….
Derby throwing everything at Leeds now as they earn a corner – swung in, it falls to Lester who blazes over from 12 yards. Oooh, lucky escape their for Leeds.
5-3 now as Derby break results in Nicole poking home at the near post following a lovely cross from Newton.
Good work from Morris earns Leeds a free kick – swung in but headed clear at the near post.
long shot swirls high from derby’s Newton but Binks is up to the challenge and takes it. She launches another Leeds counter and McIver breaks down the right – her cross is blocked and its a throw to Leeds.
great work from McIver down the right as she hits the byline and cuts it back for Bentley, she takes a touch rather than shooting and its put behind for a corner… swung in and cleared.
McIver breaks down the right and is pulled down. Freekick to Leeds just outside the right edge of the box. Thackray picks out Lee on the edge of the box but Lee scuffs her shot and its hacked clear.
Nice link up between Bentley and Morris almost results in a chance for Morris but Morgan in the derby net is out quickly to smother.
Morris straight in the action as she breaks down the right and wins a throw. Thrown in to Morris who lays it off to Thackray but her shot drifts wide. Nice play though.
Leeds work it right and its out for a throw. Final sub for Leeds as Morris comes on for Huegett. Good game for Kez today with two goals under her belt.
Derby break and win a corner. Swung in… but another poor delivery and its out for a goal kick.
Leeds are popping it round neatly in midfield with Thackray, Hartley and Lee getting plenty of touches. They spring clear down the right and Bentley is fouled. freekick swung in by Thackray and behind for a corner…
huegett to swing it in… and it’s cleared at the third attempt.
Leeds 5-2 up!! McIver caps a lovely counter attack with a near post header. great play from huegett and thackray to find McIver.
Long ball for derby results in another corner. Swung in….
too long and it’s out for a goal kick.
Well we’ve gone a few minutes without a goal – what’s going on? the games just settled now after that hectic end to end start to the second half. Leeds are looking to maintain possession. McIver and Bentley have both come on now and looked lively so far.
Sub for Leeds as Bentley replaces Campbell.
Make that 4-2! Huegett breaks free and lobs the keeper from the edge of the box. Lovely finish – I can’t keep up! It’s end to end.
Great game!
Now it’s 3-2! Derby break and Johnson finds the bottom corner from 20 yards. What a game!
Derby straight on the front foot, Johnson crosses but Binks is down quickly to collect and launch Leeds on the break….
Nice ball in to Campbell, it’s cut out but loops up to Thackray who hits it first time on the volley – it’s in!! What a goal!!!
3-1 Leeds.
The teams come out for the second half now…. We’re off.
Derby break and force another corner. Swung in and Newton gets to it at the near post to equalise. Great near post header from Newton to pull one back for Derby.
That ends the first half – Leeds 2-1 Derby.
Leeds break quickly through the middle as Lee and Thackray combine. Thackray shoots but its blocked… follow up shot from Lawn but its blocked again….. Thackray is released by Hartley but its given offside.
Ouch!! Hartley unleashes a shot that nearly decapitated Lester – it bounces clear and Leeds regroup.
Leeds break quickly down the left as Campbell peels off down the channel again and is fouled just outside the box. Huegett swings it in aiming for Cass at the far post but its over hit and out for a goal kick.
Derby on the attack now as they work it left…. but Cass and White funnel over to stop them. Throw taken quickly, inside and freekick to derby 25 yards out….
shot from Griffiths but Binks is up to it and safely catches.
Leeds press forward and work it wide to Smart down the right who crosses but it clears everyone and Derby break down their right….
Roberts gets across to cover and put it out for throw. More good defending.
Oooh so close as Lee breaks from deep to chase a through ball from Smart. the keeper just got there first but there was only inches in it.
Great jinking run from Derby’s Hannah Ward as she cuts past two and shoots just wide from the edge of the box. Binks was well positioned and looked to have it covered but a nervous moment there for Leeds.
First shot from Derby but its straight at Binks and she gathers comfortably.
Great work from Huegett as she breaks down the left flank, beats two but unfortunately just got crowded out in the box as she tried to shoot.
Derby coming into a bit more possession now but so far they’ve been unable to break down a very well organised Leeds defence.
Long ball forward earns Derby another corner… swung in and Zoe Roberts bravely gets in ahead of the attacker to clear. Good defending from the young centreback.
The games just starting to settle now – the tempo’s been furious early on.
Great ball in behind the fullback from Hartley for Smart to chase – the keeper just gets their first as the wind took it but lovely vision from Hartley.
Lawn is caught in possession and Derby break down the right – they win a corner….
Swung in but Leeds head it clear and break.
Derby attack and earn a freekick level with the box – its swung in but again its over hit and Binks can watch it sail out for a goal kick.
Nice break from Derby this time but Roberts gets across and Leeds build once more. The three at the back for Leeds look really composed and organised.
Hannah Campbell is putting in a decent shift so far up front. That’s the third or fourth time she’s spun down the channels with plenty of menace. This time the defender cuts it out but some promising signs.
Leeds are playing with a lot more pace in their passing this week. They’re still knocking it round but the added intensity is causing Derby all sorts of problems.
Leeds are in the mood here – they break again and force another corner…. Huegett swings it in Smart gets up but her header is wide. Its all Leeds so far in this one.
Leeds break again with Campbell but the defenders across and its behind for a corner…. Swung in by Thackray, ricochet off Huegett and Lawn pokes home! 2-0 Leeds
Leeds are playing some lovely passing football early on. There’s plenty of runners from midfield with Huegett and Lee neatly rotating at will. Derby are struggling to contain them when they flood forward.
Leeds are clearly buoyed by that early opener. They break quickly again and Lee is denied by a great save from Morgan in the Derby net.
Up steps Huegett to take it and its in – bottom left corner 1-0 Leeds!!
Leeds break and Kez is flattened! Penalty to Leeds!!!
Derby on the front foot early and win a freekick 30 yards out – swung in but its too long and Binks let its go for a goal kick.
We’re off…
Here come the two sides, Leeds are playing in all white with Derby playing in Maroon.
It’ll be derby kicking off with Leeds playing down the hill.
Hello and welcome to a windy Ingfields Stadium in Osset.
Today’s game is between Leeds United Ladies and Derby County Ladies, fingers crossed for a cracker!
New manager Neil Ross has picked his first line up and his troops line up as follows…
1. Sian Binks
6. Annabelle Cass
4. Erin White (C)
5. Zoe Roberts
19. Olivia Smart
8. Sarah Lawn
12. Jodie Hartley
10. Olivia Thackray
18. Abigail Lee
15. Hannah Campbell
9. Carey Huegett
Subs:
7. Emma Bentley
11. Shelby Morris
13. Shannon McCarney
16. Abbie McIver
14. Emily Starkie
We’ll be back for the kick off in just under 15 minutes time.
keep an eye for Jamie’s match report later.