An unexpected away win for bottom-placed AFC Fylde left Leeds United Women frustrated in the closing FAWNL fixture of the year.

On Sunday 15 December Leeds United Women hosted AFC Fylde in the final match

of 2024 in the FAWNL Division 1 North. Leeds headed into this game sitting top of

the league table, with Fylde sitting in 12th and struggling in the lowest position.

Image Credit: @LUFCwomen via X

The game kicked off at the Bannister Prentice Stadium in Garforth at 2pm, with

extremely windy conditions making the match a challenge from the very beginning to

end. Fylde started the game strong, making the home side work hard to defend the

plentiful chances that they were creating. Within the first quarter it was apparent that

Leeds would struggle against this side despite their antithetical league table ranking,

and the first goal for Fylde came in the 10th minute through a free header from Katie

Bowers Folan following a first-rate corner from Millie Tindall.

10’ – GOAL! 0-1 FYLDE (Bowers Folan)

The home crowd appeared shocked by the unexpected early conceded goal, and

Leeds players seemed rattled and struggling to maintain the possession to make a

mark on this fixture. Leeds had an agonising near miss off the crossbar before the 20

minute mark with a superb strike from Sarah Danby, closely followed by a free kick

from Alice Hughes which failed to meet the target. A couple of close chances at goal

were attempted by both sides, with Amy Woodruff of Leeds unable to convert a

header on target and Fylde striker Lois Moore’s magnificent long-range shot hitting

off the post.

Approaching the end of the first half, the away side doubled their advantage through

finding the back of the net for the second time, this time with a low strike on goal by

Natasha Dale, assisted by Lois Moore.

38’ – GOAL! 0-2 FYLDE (Dale)

Image Credit: @LUFCwomen via X

HALF TIME- Leeds United Women 0-2 AFC Fylde

The home side made their best efforts to start the second half strong, and almost

immediately had their sights on goal with a shot from Woodruff, however Fylde’s

goalkeeper continued her impressive shot-stopping form to deny any attempts being

successful. Leeds gained possession of this half in ways they could not manage in

the first 45 minutes, and it was through determined defending from the visitors that

Leeds continued to be denied any opportunity to convert their chances into vital

goals.

With around 20 minutes left of play, AFC Fylde’s Lois Moore was shown a second

yellow and sent off the pitch after a dangerous and unnecessary challenge on Ellie

Dobson, which left her plunging off the pitch and into the dugout area. A yellow card

was shown to Leeds defender Shauna Legge in the player conflict that occurred

following this incident.

Against the turbulent wind conditions making control of the ball difficult for both

sides, the visitors deepened their backline and continued their impressive block of

Leeds’ desperate efforts to half the deficit, with Kirkham making a number of

impressive saves.

Despite Leeds’ deep control of the game in the second half, they failed to convert the

final attempts from Dobson and Smart, and with the sound of the full-time whistle the

home side were left bitterly disappointed and AFC Fylde delighted with a deserved

away win against their competitors.

This result leaves Leeds United Women dropping down to third place on goal

difference, and AFC Flyde still sitting 12th in Division 1 North heading into 2025.

LUFCW Starting XI: Simpson (GK), Legge, Smart ©, Hughes, Dobson, Danby,

Smith, Greene, Woodruff, Greene, Guy

Substitutes used: Jakeman, Gibrill-Keating

AFCF Starting XI: Kirkham (GK), Dunion, Rogers, James, Tindall, Dale, Kelsh-

Ridge ©, Borrowdale, Moore, Bowers Folan, Chan

Substitutes used: Carabott, Duffell

Referee: Matthew Coles