Final heartbreak for Leeds Met

Leeds Met women's football team suffered heartbreak for the second successive year in the BUCS Championships as they lost out to Northumbria on penalties.

Both teams warmed up on a pitch that showed little signs of a long busy season at Bramall Lane. With the Sheffield sun shining down the scene was set for an exciting BUCS Mars Championship Final.

The teams took the pitch to the sound of a very vocal travelling support, looking calm and composed. However the first five minutes saw a series of poor passing with neither team establishing any control of the game. Sophie Walton the Leeds Met Carnegie number 4 worked hard to gain some sort of control and set a good tempo for her team, winning the ball back and spreading play neatly with one touch football.

As the clock ticked through the first fifteen minutes Leeds Met began to dominate possession with Jessica Wright at the back for Leeds Met looking rock solid under the long ball attack of Northumbria.

The first clear chance came against the run of play with the ball lost in mid field and spread to Abby Holmes from Northumbria just pushing her shot across the face of goal. This effort appeared to galvanise the Northumbria team as a second shot on goal followed only minutes later but lacked the power to pass Julianna Draycott in goal for Leeds Met.

With only 12 minutes left of the half the best chance so far fell to Rebecca Kendell of Leeds Met after a great run from Jade Moore however, good defence and strong goalkeeping by Helen Alderson scrambled the ball away. Leeds Met seemed to find the most space down the right flank and looked to work the ball there at every opportunity with Natalie Haigh pushing forward at every opportunity causing problems for the Northumbria defence.

With only 6 minutes left of the first half a lunging challenge on Natalie Haigh working her way into the box yet again led to a penalty that was neatly slotted in the bottom left by Natalie Haigh herself. Leeds Met 1 - 0 Northumbria.
Leeds Met started brightly in the second half but only realised this dominance with Jade Moore heading home in the 65th minute. Leeds Met 2 - 0 Northumbria.

With Northumbria refusing to capitulate they won a free kick on the edge of the Leeds Met box. A tempting free kick delivered by Becky Salicki found Abby Holmes on the far post to volley a fantastic goal home in the 83rd minute. The celebrations were muted as Northumbria rushed back to halfway to push for an equaliser.
And an equaliser they got with only minutes left on the clock the initial shot was saved, but not gathered with the rebound tucked away by Janice Wills, to send the game into extra time.

The first half of extra time produced little in terms of goals but a few chances went begging from both teams as the nerves and fatigue began to show. The second half offered more chances with four falling to Leeds Met in the last two minutes all of which should have been converted. Penalties await.

Score after extra time Leeds Met Carnegie 2 - 2 Northumbria.

Northumbria held their nerve to win 4-3 on penalties and retain the BUCS Championship, leaving the Leeds Met team to reflect on what might have been.