York City Ladies fell to their fourth straight 2023/24 defeat, on the wrong end of a 3-1 scoreline against Leeds United Women at the LNER Community Stadium

The visitors got the game underway, and while it wasn’t the most entertaining of starts, it was Leeds who saw a half-chance arrive after eleven minutes, but Kathyrn Smith’s reaching effort just wasn’t powerful enough to take it past Becky Sidwell.

In search of an opener themselves, York also went close shortly after, a cross-cum-shot from Jess Holder drifting wide of the woodwork.

City’s number seven would soon regret not making the most of that chance as she watched her side fall victim to a defensive error, which allowed Jessica Rousseau to run through and take it past the ‘keeper before converting into an empty net to give Leeds the lead inside 17 minutes.

Less than ten minutes later and the Whites had almost doubled the advantage, but Macy Ellis’ shot from a tight angle was soft and an easy claim for Sidwell.

The Minsterbelles stopper was soon back in action and crucially so, as she was forced into a fantastic diving stop, denying a low strike from goalscorer Rousseau with virtually her fingertip.

Still a goal down and having barely threatened the opposite goalframe, the hosts looked to change that - Fliss Jones showed what she is capable of other than scoring, winning the ball back in the middle and bringing it forward before laying it off to Jess Holder on the edge of the box, who, on her first touch, sent a delicious looping effort agonizingly bouncing off the upper side of the crossbar.

Barring a few considerably unsuccessful goal attempts, there was little other action in what had been a pretty dreary first half.

A City change involving the introduction of Ella Duffield at the break didn’t change things either, as Leeds went on to find a second just five minutes following the restart.

Yet again, it was Rousseau who kept calm and composed to finish off a good move and slot home past an almost helpless Sidwell.

Less than 60 seconds later, and York City hearts were broken for a third time, with Smith getting on the scoresheet from a ruthless close-range finish, turning a low cross from Paige Williams into the back of the net.

Heading for their fourth straight defeat of the new campaign, Steph Turnbull’s side knew there was only a marginal chance of getting back into it against a strong league rival that had, in contrast, won all their 2023/24 games to date.

Aiming to throw themselves a lifeline with less than 25 minutes to play, a red shirt launched it into the mixer - there was a slight glimmer of hope as a loose ball in the box fell to Jones, but her fierce driven strike was well kept out by the hand of Carrie Simpson.

Alice Hughes tried her luck at cutting the deficit with a free kick in a dangerous position, but her effort was just over the top.

Minutes later, Hughes found herself on the ball again, played through down the right, and with a 600+ strong crowd desperate to have something to cheer about, they thought that is what they had got, only to watch the City player’s low effort roll so narrowly wide.

But it was only a matter of time before that goal did come, four minutes shy of the ninety mark.

It couldn’t have been anyone else other than experienced captain Nikki Brown, who took a couple of good touches and then fired a terrific looping shot over Simpson from more than 20 yards out.

It may have been too little, too late for the Minsterbelles, but it sure sent York fans home a little more elated than they would have been after a 3-0 scoreline, yet that elusive victory is still to be found.