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Sunday 5 August, Skelmersdale
Friendly Goals
Leeds: Sue Smith 72 Leeds United Ladies continue there good start to pre season with a 1-0 win again fellow premier league opponents Liverpool. Leeds again had a very inexperienced defensive line up, missing three of last season's back four due to injury, holidays, and International duty. England U17s Mel Sutcliffe started the game at right back after impressing there last week and 16 year old centre back Gemma Bonner played along side Lucy ward who had stepped into a centre back role to help the team. Leeds took a little time to settle against a hard-working Liverpool side, whose line-up included ex-Leeds United captain Gayle Formston, but still had the better chances of the first half and were wondering how it was still 0-0 at half time after having four goal-bound chances cleared off the line.
Leeds finally did take the lead on 72 minutes when England International Sue Smith picked up the ball on the right and cut inside to shoot from 20 yards, her shot parried into the goal by the Liverpool keeper. In the Leeds net, new signing Carly Telford prevented Liverpool equalising when she had to be at full stretch to tip over a rasping shot for the second time in the game, but apart from that she had very little to do during the second half. Fellow new signing Steph Houghton crashed a thunderous effort against the Liverpool crossbar moments later, and Leeds continued the pressure but Liverpool never gave up, defending well as a team.
The only real disappoint of the day was seeing Carly Ward carried off on a stretcher for what could prove to be a bad injury and leaving the ground on crutches, heading for an X-ray on her very swollen ankle.
The game proved another good work out for the new look Leeds side, who still have five players to come back into the squad. |
