A more perfect future

Leeds United Women are not far off, according to head coach Rick Passmoor.

“It’s not created by the opposition, it’s created by our own selves, by lack of game understanding or decision-making on the ball,” he said after United fell to a 2-0 defeat to league leaders Durham Cestria on Sunday, three days after a breathless 5-3 win away at Hull City.

Though Durham boast a near-flawless league record,, there was no credit for the title-chasers, only responsibility for his own team. Passmor blamed “silly goals, stupid mistakes” and was surprised Leeds failed to be ruthless, when just 72 hours earlier they had scored a ferocious five.

At Hull, Leeds entertained. Abbie Brown made the Tigresses look silly by shooting two goals into the same far corner, before inviting a goal line clearance from City captain Ellice Jackman, who wised up at the third time of asking.

In the meantime, Catherine Hamill beat former team-mate Laura Bartup to a corner to score her first goal of the season. She didn’t milk the moment, though. After a quick cuddle with long-term centre-back partner Bridie Hannon, Hamill was galloping back, answering her long-term call of defensive duty.

Before half-time, Jess Rousseau hunted down her own opportunity, pouncing when the City keeper took things too casually at the back; with a 4-0 lead, there would surely be time for more fun in the second half.

A four-goal thrashing wasn’t enough for Sarah Danby, who insisted on marking the occasion with a true peach of goal. The moment was crafted by City’s Amy Pollock who, in the hopes of halting the runaway train, stuck a leg in the path of Olivia Smart to give Leeds a free kick. The Whites players rushing in for the follow-up were stopped in their tracks as Danby sent it sailing into the top corner.

But Danby wasn’t the only one with something special to offer on Humberside. Since leaving United in October, Laura Bartup had scored four in ten for her new club. She added two more in her eleventh game, following a sumptuous headed goal with her own eye-catching free-kick to bring the Tigresses’ deficit down to three.

Soon it was two. Though Hope Knight’s stunning solo goal came too late for City fans to bet on their team pulling level, it did leave a trail of flailing Whites players in its wake, wondering how they’d lost control of such a commanding first-half performance.

It was not surprising that United’s chances were more confined against Durham who, with the best defensive record in Division One North, have conceded just twelve league goals this season. On another afternoon, at another ground, Abbie Brown would have found her favourite bottom corner when Kathryn Smith sent her through in the seventh minute. But Smith overhit the pass under pressure from Cestria’s Ella Wilson before Grace Mackie made up yards to shepherd Brown away.

At the other end, Smith was under pressure again when her headed clearance didn’t make it very far at all. Bouncing between Kanisha-Mae Underdown and Erin Nicholson, it was a blue shirt who seized the ball as though it were her birthright to volley it over Carrie Simpson’s head.

After the break, Passmoor’s hoarse calls for his players to go ‘TIGHTER’ proved useless as Wilson skipped past Underdown, then when she didn’t fancy getting past Danby she nudged the ball to one side and found the net from twenty yards.

Two goals from two players making very good shots — but Leeds had made space for them to shine. Rousseau is very good, too, but when she threatened to prove it in the final ten minutes, Jennifer Knowles stopped her with a burst of pace to force her shot wide.

By closing out a 2-0 win over the Whites, Durham have done nearly all they can to secure a place in the third tier next season. Leading the pack, they have one game left to play to second-placed Newcastle United’s three, and if they both win them all the north-east rivals will be tied on points — leaving the Toon, currently level on goal difference with the leaders, to steal promotion.

It’s a sickening vision of the future for Passmoor’s players. Having lost two league games all season, Durham look too good for the division yet still could compete in it next term. Until the FAWNL addresses the issue, the single promotion places available in each of the fourth tier leagues will leave frustrated, deserving losers at the end of very good seasons.

Elsewhere this weekend, Stourbridge’s promotion to the third tier, earned at a canter, was confirmed weeks after the Whites dominated them in the FAWNL Plate final. With the Glassgirls on track to top the Division One Midlands table by a five point margin, their route to the Women’s Super League looks less agonising than those fighting for air in the north.

Leeds’ own competitive motive disappeared weeks ago but they still have a role to play. Newcastle smashed Bradford City 6-1 at St James’ Park on Sunday. Amanda Staveley was there. Carly Telford was there. Twenty-four thousand fans showed up to watch one of the final steps on the Lady Magpies’ march to glory.

On Sunday, Newcastle will take to the field in Tadcaster, where Leeds would surely relish spoiling their party. There’ll be no winding down, according to Rick Passmoor. “I want us to ensure that we go out properly.” ⬢