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Leeds United Ladies comfortable first half performance was enough to see off Liverpool at Tadcaster on Thursday evening. Jess Clarke and Amanda Barr scored the two goals as Leeds missed the chance to boost their goal difference by even more.
The hosts started the game brightly and Sue Smith won an early penalty after a surging run down the left. Unfortunately, Barr’s penalty was at a nice height for keeper Nicki Davies who pushed the danger away. The home crowd, though, had to wait just 5 more minutes before their team was in front. After another run from Smith, her cross found Clarke at the back post who headed home. 5 minutes before half time, Leeds extended their advantage when Barr intercepted a pass from Caroline Charlton and coolly slotted past Davies in the Reds’ goal. In between the goals, Barr had the ball in the back of the net, only for it to have been ruled out for offside. Whether Jade Moore was interfering with play will stay shrouded in the mystery of the offside rule. The visitors had a reshuffle at half time and came out with intent. A Chantelle Parry lob brought the best out of Whites keeper Carly Telford, who tipped the Reds’ first meaningful attempt round the post. Telford must have been grateful for some work after an uneventful first half. Skipper Gill Hart then went close with a drive from distance and substitute Jade Thomas made some mazy runs with no end product but the second half evened itself out soon enough. Clarke had Leeds’ best effort of the half but it was straight at Davies. In the end though, Leeds held out for a deserved win to move level on points with last weeks visitors Bristol Academy. Match report by David Brenchley. |
