Leeds found themselves a goal down after 2 minutes, when Carla Tomkins failed to clear a ball, instead it went under everyone, leaving the Leeds keeper Carly Telford unsighted until too late.

Leeds looked nervous in the opening few minutes and Liverpool took full advantage of it, in the 16 minute another defensive mistake allowed too much space down the Liverpool left and Leeds were two down.

As the game wore on Leeds began to get into the tempo and passing that they had shown in pre season games, but found it hard to wear down a hard working Liverpool team.

Leeds had what had looked like a goal ward header from Lucy ward cleared off the line by the Liverpool captain Gayle Formston and another shot from Sue Smith and Katie Holtham narrowly over the bar in the closing stages of the first half.

Leeds completely dominated the possession in the second half but with Liverpool already two up, they got everyone behind the ball and defended for their lives.Leeds did have enough chances to have got back into the game, Jade Moore had a good effort saved and Amanda Barr had another chance from close range but hit it straight at the keeper, Sue Smith had a one on one saved by the Liverpool keeper

Leeds had thought they had managed to get a goal back when Holtham's shot from six yards beat the keeper but some how a defender dived and got just enough of her body behind the ball for it to deflect over the bar instead of in the net.

Leeds were camped in the Liverpool half for most of the final 15 minutes but even the pace and trickery of sub Jess Clarke weren't enough to get a goal back as Leeds went out of the league cup at the first round.

A disappointed Leeds Manager Rick Passmoor said " It wasnt the best start to the season that we all wanted, We gave ourselves a mountain to climb after making two silly mistakes early in the first half, we were nervous and took time after that to get our passing going again.

We hadn't played as badly as we did in the opening 30 minutes in any of our pre season games. We did get better as the game went on but didn't take our chances when they came, we are all disappointed with the performance and result, as we can play so much much better.

I am looking forward to Thursday's game against Belles, it gives us a chance to put things right and get the league games off to a good start.

Thursday 11th October 2007

 Leeds United Ladies v Doncaster Rovers Belles

Tadcaster Albion FC

7.30pm KO