United Women 4 Sheffield United 0

Despite already being unable to progress in the Continental Cup, Marc Skinner's side were determined to see the year out on a high, and that is exactly what we did. 

A first-half brace from Adriana Leon gave the Reds a platform to build on, before a second-half own goal and Martha Thomas strike sealed the win.

It was a completely dominant opening 45 minutes from the Reds, who were camped in our opponents' half. 

From the off, Skinner’s players were piling forward and carving out chances, albeit with a handful of long-range efforts being saved comfortably by Bethan Davies in the away goal. 

It would take just 12 minutes into the game for us to take the lead, with Leon on target to open the score. A corner whipped into the area fell to Aissatou Tounkara who fizzed the ball into the direction of Leon, with the Canadian showing great instinct to backheel the ball beyond Davies between the sticks. 

Up against a deep block, breaking down the Sheffield United defence came as no easy task for Skinner’s side, who continued to look for a route to goal. 

But our patience would pay off just before half-time, with Leon getting on the scoresheet once again to double our lead.

It was a wonderfully worked goal as defence was turned into attack, and was kickstarted by hard work in the middle of the park from the Canadian. Rachel Williams drove forward with the ball before slipping a pass into the path of Lucia Garcia, who delivered it across the box for Leon to tap in.

The second 45 would unfold in a similar fashion to the first. 

Skinner’s side continued to dominate the ball, and create plenty of chances. Just over five minutes after the break, we had a third goal. Thomas’s cross into the box, into the path of the oncoming Garcia, was turned into her own net by Blades defender Ellie Wilson. 

An assured performance from the Reds saw Thomas secure the three points on the hour mark, after being found by Williams - who was instrumental going forward - and hitting an inch-perfect strike.  

Our visitors were able to venture out of their own half more in the second half, with their best opportunity of the game coming from a header at the back post that was saved comfortably by Sophie Baggaley. 

Two young Reds, Keira Barry and Alyssa Aherne, were introduced by Skinner in the second half as we saw the game out. 

Although we now bow out of this competition, the Reds still ended 2022 on a high with this excellent performance enjoyed by the loyal home crowd at Leigh.

MATCH DETAILS

United: Baggaley, Batlle (Blundell 45), Tounkara, Turner (Le Tissier 45), Thorisdottir; Staniforth, Boe Risa; Thomas (Zelem 64), Leon (Barry 64), Garcia; Williams (Aherne 80). 

Unused subs: Middleton-Patel, Mannion, Ladd, Galton.

Goals: Leon 12, 44; Wilson own goal 51; Thomas 63.

Booked: Aherne 87. 

Sheffield United: Davies; Wilson (Dior Muir 78), Barker (Lord-Mears 45), Newsham, Hartley; Sweetman-Kirk, Brown, Enderby (Docherty), Paul (Riglar 65), Walters; Rayner (Wilcock 64). 

Unused subs: Wilson, Riglar, Francis-Jones, Miller, Graham. 

Booked: Brown 83.