Simon Wood: We want to do everyone proud on the day | OneFootball

Ninety minutes stand between Leeds United Women and the West Riding FA County Cup trophy, as the Whites face Halifax Women in the showpiece final on Sunday afternoon.

United have enjoyed a strong campaign under manager Simon Wood and booked their date with destiny with an impressive victory over Knaresborough Town in their final four bout.

Going into the showdown with the Calderdale outfit, the Leeds boss is pleased with the levels in training as preparations step up a gear.

“It has been really good,” Wood explained. “It has been a long time since we finished the season with the win over York City.

“Everyone has been in really good spirits, working really hard. We are really looking forward to having the opportunity to showcase ourselves in the final.

“I think it is an important part of football because a club like Leeds United should be competing for trophies across all teams.

“With the backing and the support we get from the football club, with the support we get from the fans that come and watch us week in, week out, it is important to give the club and ourselves and the supporters moments to go out and enjoy a cup final.

“The prize at the end of it is a reward for hard work, but we have got to remember that getting to the final isn’t the reward, it is winning it at the end, so we have got to make sure we go in and we work hard and we do everyone proud on the day.”

Halifax are familiar opposition for the Whites with the two teams having met in a separate cup competition at the start of the campaign.

Leeds came out on top with a 2-0 victory that day, though Wood is confident his side are in for a much tougher test this time around.

“Halifax have been on their own journey this year from where we played them at the start of the season. They were almost a brand new team and the manager has put some good recruitment together during the season.

“They finished strongly in their league in their results and performances at the back end of the season compared to the first half.

“There is a bit of history between the clubs in other competitions over the years so that rivalry will probably come to the forefront. It is a Yorkshire derby, as well, and the last game of the season with a chance of winning a prize.

“It will be a different type of challenge and for our players that previously played there, they will want to prove a point about themselves. It should be a really good, fiercely contested game.

“It will be important to get a real balance on the day because we want the players to enjoy the occasion and the experience, but then we also need to remember that once the first whistle goes in the game, we have got to go and do the things that we do week in week out that meant we have had a successful season.”

Read our match preview HERE.