York City 1-1 Leeds United: Abbie Brown rescues a point in entertaining Yorkshire derby

In front of a crowd of 2,280 at the LNER Community Stadium, Whites attacker Abbie Brown’s ferocious shot cancelled the hosts’ lead to settle an entertaining Yorkshire derby contest.

Rick Passmoor’s side began the game in fifth gear with Brown’s creativity the foundation for waves of attack which York dealt with well.

United went quiet as the hosts grew into the game - though City forward Felicity Jones fluffed her side’s biggest chance of the first half as a heavy touch denied her a shot at goal.

But Leeds weren’t going to let their opponents take full control, and fired two warning shots before the interval, with City ‘keeper Rebecca Sidwell tipping free-kick magician Olivia Smart’s trademark delivery over the bar before Macy Ellis watched from the floor as former United full-back Rebecca Jeffels cleared her shot off the line.

You could sense at half time that there was scant chance of the feisty derby ending goalless - and the game didn’t wait long to deliver on what it promised.

The home crowd were thrilled to see Jess Holder get two big chances on goal within minutes of the restart - Whites ‘keeper Carrie Simpson held the first, but the second escaped her grasp and found the bottom corner to a roar from the stands.

But a moment of brilliance from Brown ensured that City’s lead was short-lived, with the striker’s powerful strike levelling the scores just before the hour mark.

An epidemic of cramp ensured the game slowed in the closing stages and despite valiant efforts from tired legs to bag a decisive goal, the game ended in a tie. Brown’s equaliser puts Leeds two points clear at the top of the Division One North table.

York: Sidwell, Jeffles, Cassidy (83 - Smith), Cattle (68 - Sorokan), Heald, Hughes, Hardcastle, Brown, Ash (62 - Eustance), Jones, Holder (90 - Fredericksen).

Unused subs: Patterson.

Leeds: Simpson, Hindle, Hannon (68 - Robson), Hamill, Smart, Smith, Danby, Williams (68 - Nolan), Whitham, Brown, Ellis (88 - Price).

Unused subs: Handy, Underdown.