Match Report: AFC Fylde Women 1-3 Leeds United

In their first home game of the season, AFC Fylde Women slipped to a 3-1 loss to Leeds United Women at Kellamergh Park.

To mark the August bank holiday weekend, the Club hosted a Family Fun Day on Sunday, and a bumper crowd of 285 spectators were treated to a competitive match-up in the FAWNL Division One North.

After the Coasters had taken a first-half lead through Karri Chan’s wonder strike, Simon Wood’s Whites staged a comeback in the second half to turn the contest in their favour with quick-fire goals from Sian Gibril-Keating and Katie Smith, before Sarah Danby added a third in the closing stages.

Despite the disappointment of the result, Jake Williams and Steve Mainwaring could still take plenty of positives from their team’s performance in the second matchday of the 2024/25 season.

Prior to kick-off, Sasha Rowe was presented with a framed shirt for making her 100th league appearance for the Coasters. The versatile midfielder is an ever-present in the side and has been a consistently top performer since her arrival in 2018.

On a wet and blustery afternoon, the visitors created the first opening as Drew Greene darted down the right and dragged a shot wide of the far post. Fylde then suffered an early blow as Lois Moore sustained an injury and had to be withdrawn in place of Imogen Borrowdale.

After play resumed, Millie Tindall advanced up field and played in skipper Holly Kelsh-Ridge, who saw her attempt gathered by Leeds goalkeeper Carrie Simpson.

Approaching the quarter-hour mark, Karri Chan put Fylde ahead when she met a cross from the right with an exquisite left-footed finish into the top corner. With a perfectly timed run to the edge of the area, Chan’s first-time strike left Simpson rooted to the spot.

Searching for an instant response, the visitors pushed forward as Smith hit a side-footed shot that was well held by Fylde goalkeeper Skye Kirkham.

On the half-hour mark, Sasha Rowe whipped in a free-kick that caused mayhem inside the box, before the loose ball fell to Bowers Folan, who lashed a shot narrowly over the crossbar.

Five minutes later, Kirkham was called upon to make a double-save to keep the visitors at bay. After parrying Jess Rousseau’s piledriver down to her left, Kirkham then showed sharp reflexes to deny Greene at point-blank range on the rebound.

As a result, the Coasters went into the break with their one-goal lead still intact.

Half-Time: AFC Fylde Women 1-0 Leeds United Women

The Whites eventually found an equaliser in the 53rd minute when Rousseau slid the ball through to Gibril-Keating, who neatly controlled the ball with her first touch before sweeping a shot into the bottom left corner with her second touch. It was a clinical finish to draw the visitors level.

As the momentum swung in their favour, the Whites continued to exert pressure on the Fylde backline and they found their rewards on the hour-mark when Smith grabbed a second goal. Dribbling towards the right edge of the area, Smith unleashed a fierce drive into the bottom left corner to make it 2-1.

Minutes later, the Coasters threatened from a set piece as Tindall’s pinpoint free-kick found Alex Sanchez in space, but Sanchez was unable to direct her header past Simpson.

Entering the final quarter of an hour, the Whites extended their lead directly from a free-kick on the right some 35 yards from goal. Sarah Danby stepped up and curled a left-footed delivery towards the back post that took a wicked deflection on its way into the net.

In the 80th minute, Leeds nearly added a fourth when Ellie Dobson squared to Rousseau inside the box, but Rousseau scooped her shot high over the crossbar. In the closing moments, the Coasters almost pulled a goal back when Kelsh-Ridge fired on target from close range, but Simpson was equal to it.

Full-Time: AFC Fylde Women 1-3 Leeds United Women

AFC Fylde Women: Kirkham, Dunion, Sanchez, Rowe, Tindall, Whitaker (73’ Duffell), Kelsh-Ridge, Chan, Bowers Folan, Carabott (60’ Hyland), Moore (6’ Borrowdale)

Unused substitutes: Pendlebury, Rogers

Leeds United Women: Simpson, Legge, Smart, Turner, Danby, Dobson, Rousseau, Smith, Greene (85’ Jakeman), Elliott (88’ Waldron), White (20’ Gibril-Keating)

Unused substitute: Lockwood

Report by Scott Jones

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