Report: Leeds United Women 1-1 Chorley Women | OneFootball

FA WNL Division One North

Leeds United Women 1 (Ellis 58’)

Chorley Women 1 (Hamer 62’)

Leeds: Mortimer (GK), Millard, Legge (C), Bass, Greene, Hughes, White (Gibrill-Keating 80’), Smith, Dixon (Williams 90’), Woodruff, Ellis (Graham 75’). Subs not used: Simpson (GK), Waldron, Crawshaw.

Chorley: Finch (GK), Searson (C), Cook, Wood (Stanhope 69’), Ellinson (Chlodek 56’) Worthington, Hamer (Parker 85’), Mackay (Unsworth 62’), Catlow, Lawrence (Newhouse 52’), Binks. Subs not used: Parish, Duffy.

Venue: Bannister Prentice Stadium

Referee: Matthew Coles

Sent-off: Gibrill-Keating (Leeds)

Leeds United Women were held to a draw by Chorley Women as they began their 2025/26 FA WNL Division One North campaign in front of a packed-out Bannister Prentice Stadium.

Simon Wood handed debuts to Academy graduate Katie Mortimer, right-back Alayna Millard and winger Chloe Dixon who all made impacts on opening day, as well as the long-awaited return for Rebekah Bass who featured for the Whites for the first time in nearly three years!

The hosts started on the front foot, applying pressure to the Chorley back line in an attempt to force a mistake. Inside the opening few minutes and Amy Woodruff came agonisingly close to cleverly dispossessing the ball from Ellie Cook who narrowly managed to clear her lines.

Amongst the early Leeds pressure, Chorley created an opportunity of their own when Molly Wood created space on the wing and forced a corner from an attempted cross blocked by debutant Millard.

The resulting set-piece found the head of Cook whose attempt was blocked on the line by skipper Shauna Legge, ensuring the scores stayed level with an outstanding piece of defending.

Dixon was finding plenty of joy down the left flank for Wood’s side. Creating space whilst surging forward, the attacker played an intricate through ball for the overlapping Darcie Greene whose dangerous cross was hacked away before it could find a white shirt.

Leeds shot stopper Mortimer was called into action shortly after. Lizzy Hamer tried her luck with a long-range effort for the away side but the young academy star’s safe hands clutched onto the strike.

Long range efforts kept on coming! Next up with an audacious half volleyed strike was Kath Smith 30 yards from goal which was somehow tipped over the bar by Finch, providing a quality save to match the shot.

Approaching the interval, a dangerous Chorley cross from a corner was met by Nicola Worthington and rose above the upright as the score remained goalless.

Moments before the break and another speculative shot came this time from Macy Ellis. Spotting the Chorley number one off her line, a long-range lob looked to catch out Finch although the effort sailed narrowly wide.

HALF TIME: Leeds United Women 0-0 Chorley Women

The first attempt in the second 45 fell at the feet of Alice Hughes. Striking across goal, her arrowed drive whistled past the post, signalling a quick start for the Whites after the interval.

Leeds capitalised on a dominant period of the game when Smith provided a pinpoint, defence-splitting through ball for Ellis to run onto.

Baring down on goal, the forward’s low shot found the bottom right corner, evading the fingertips of Finch who could only pick the ball out the net!

The Whites’ lead was short lived however as Hamer struck home to level proceedings, converting after Mortimer and Legge had initially dealt with two previous chances.

The clash continued as a back-and-forth affair with both sides creating opportunities to put themselves ahead although nothing would prevail.

Worthington came close for Chorley, as well as Hamer who was denied well by the impressive debutant Mortimer before Matthew Coles’ full-time whistle sounded.

The Whites turn their attention to league cup action in the week as they take on Halifax Women on Wednesday evening.

FULL TIME: Leeds United Women 1-1 Chorley Women