County Cup Final Report: Halifax Women 1-1 (P) Leeds United Women | OneFootball

West Riding FA County Cup Final

Halifax Women 1 (Chadwick 22’)

Leeds United Women 1 (Woodruff 66’)

Leeds United Women win 4-2 on penalties.

Halifax: Farrell (GK), Melrose, Salisbury-Williams, Cass, Evans, Wilson (Limbert 62’), Fisher (C), Whitham (Cardenas 90’), Wildgoose, Walsh, Chadwick. Subs not used: Stout, Armson, Hassanin.

Leeds: Simpson (GK), Legge (C), Turner, Hughes, Dobson, Rousseau, Smith, Drew Greene, Woodruff, Darcie Greene, White. Subs not used: Oates (GK), Ellis, Waldron, Gibrill-Keating.

Referee: Jason Smith

Booked: Wilson, Wildgoose (Halifax) Drew Greene (Leeds)

Venue: Fleet Lane

Leeds United Women were crowned champions of the West Riding FA County Cup after beating rivals Halifax Women on penalties, thanks to heroics from goalkeeper Carrie Simpson who denied the opposition twice in the shootout!

With the scores level at full time after Amy Woodruff had cancelled out Charlie Chadwick’s earlier opener, the tie was decided by spot kicks with Ellie White on hand to fire home the winning strike after Simpson’s magnificent saves.

The Whites started on the front foot, dominating possession as they looked to make the early inroads and test the Halifax defence.

Striker Jess Rousseau was first to try her luck after a quick break down the right flank, striking an audacious effort from distance that narrowly sailed over Lucy Farrell’s upright.

Despite United’s mounting pressure, it was the Calderdale outfit who took the lead when forward Chadwick found space inside the area to crash an emphatic finish beyond Simpson and into the back of the net.

Chadwick then went close to adding to her tally and extending her side’s lead with a drive from range which fizzed over the bar.

Keen to wrestle back momentum, attacker Drew Greene went close to restoring parity, as her low shot cannoned off the foot of the near post and behind.

Against her former club, the winger had initially darted into space down the right, twisting and turning into the area before hitting the upright.

Wood’s side continued to threaten and almost drew level through Rousseau. The forward charged through one-on-one after latching onto an inventive pass, but fine goalkeeping from Farrell saw the Halifax stopper make a superb intervention to smother the danger.

The keeper’s services were again called upon moments later, parrying well to deny Alice Hughes’ close range strike after the midfielder linked up well with Woodruff to find space inside the area.

HALF TIME: Halifax Women 1-0 Leeds United Women

The Whites emerged for the second half unchanged, keen to continue on the front foot as they searched for the leveller their play deserved.

Rousseau did brilliantly well to retain possession on the edge of the penalty area, chopping onto her right foot and curling a well struck shot narrowly wide of the far post, which had Farrell rooted to the spot.

After White and Hughes both went close, United had to be alert down the other end with Simpson forced into a diving save to deny Annabelle Cass’ testing strike from distance.

Leeds the went even closer to an equaliser when Rousseau threaded an inch perfect pass in behind for Kath Smith to race onto. One-on-one with Farrell, the midfielder was denied by a superb sprawling save.

The pressure finally told with just over 20 minutes of normal time remaining and in style, with Player of the Season Woodruff smashing home a leveller!

Smith picked the run of the forward out with a deft, chipped delivery. The striker still had it all to do, however, controlling the ball superbly before finishing emphatically beyond Farrell!

With the possibility of penalties looming, the game quickly grew into an open and often frantic affair as both teams pushed for the winner.

Chances came at both ends in quick succession; Chadwick firstly met a deep cross and volleyed a powerful shot wide for Halifax before, on the counter, Drew Greene dragged a low strike beyond the far post.

FULL TIME: Halifax Women 1-1 Leeds United Women

The tie was to be decided from 12 yards and Simpson was the hero, superbly saving two Halifax spot kicks before White fired home the winning penalty to see the Whites crowned champions of the West Riding FA County Cup!

AFTER PENALTIES: TIME: Halifax Women (2) 1-1 (4) Leeds United Women