To the line

Leeds United Women’s 2023/24 season was dramatic before it even began. The week before the FA Women’s National League’s opening weekend, participants complained about having to play a game of football on the same day that England were due to compete in their first World Cup final since 1966.

The openers of all six FAWNL divisions were scheduled for 2pm on the third Sunday in August — just as they are every year — a mere hour after the final whistle was due in the historic match, meaning extra time and penalties could be going on while Leeds United were warming up to face Stockport County at Garforth Town.

I don’t know if that was preying on Lucy Bronze’s mind, or if she’d been paid off by someone from the FAWNL, but something inspired the Uni of Leeds grad to venture forth with gay abandon, losing the ball well out of position and allowing Olga Carmona to breeze through and score the game’s only goal, wrapping it all up in ninety minutes.

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