FAWNL Cup Report: Norton & Stockton Ancients 2-2 Leeds United Women | OneFootball

FA Women’s National League Cup

Norton & Stockton Ancients 2 (Rae 62’, Green 90’)

Leeds United Women 2 (Hughes 2’, Graham 68’)

Norton: Valentine (GK), Coyle (Heslop 64’), Boyle, Cairns (Smith 71’), Rae, Burton, Owens (C), Atkinson, Forster, Jamieson (Green 60’), Marshall (Leadbitter, 71’). Subs not used: West

Leeds: Simpson (GK), Legge (C), Cassidy, Hughes, White, Smith (Ellis 75’), Woodruff, Williams (Drew Greene 88’), Millard (Bass 75’), Greene, Graham (Lee 81’). Subs not used: Oates (GK), Sanderson, Watson

Venue: Norton Sports Complex, Norton

Referee: Flynn Martin

Bookings: Smith (87’)

Leeds United Women were held to a 2-2 draw away at Norton & Stockton Ancients in the FA WNL Cup, despite an early header from Alice Hughes and a well-earned goal from Abbie Graham.

Leeds got off to a flying start, taking the lead in the second minute thanks to Hughes, who rose highest and nodded in Ellie White’s free kick at the back post to open the scoring.

The pressure from the Whites continued, as 10 minutes later, Amy Woodruff reaped the rewards of pressing the Norton backline, winning the ball from a defender and running in-behind, but her low strike was just wide of the post.

As time ticked on, Norton grew into the game and it developed into quite the end-to-end affair, with a number of chances falling to either side but the score remained in Leeds’ favour.

The Whites had another couple of quick-fire chances in the middle of the half, as Graham tricked her way into the area and got a shot off. She forced some strong defending before the clearance ricocheted to Hughes, who took aim for the corner but Elen Valentine in the Norton goal held well.

The home side saw their first clear-cut chance come in close to the break, as Eve Marshall picked up a loose ball baring down on Carrie Simpson’s goal, but the hosts’ forward fired wide of the mark.

HALF TIME: Norton & Stockton Ancients 0-1 Leeds United Women

The second half was full of action with Marshall once again finding herself in behind for the hosts, but just like the first chance, she put her strike wide of the target.

Leeds did have the ball in the back of the net in the 57th minute, but the linesman’s flag was up, and the goal was disallowed.

Norton did find the equaliser in the 62nd minute, as the ball fell to Georgia Rae in the centre of the box following a set-piece, and she fired powerfully into the back of the net.

The Whites responded perfectly however, as just five minutes after the goal, Graham showed some great determination to meet the ball before the Norton ‘keeper, bringing it down and tapping into an empty net to put Leeds back ahead.

However, as the clock hit the 90th minute, Norton once again levelled the tie, as Erin Green diverted the ball into the back of the net from close range.

FULL TIME: Norton & Stockton Ancients 2-2 Leeds United Women