Credit: Imago

Richie Mills

Wed 29 April 2026 21:10, UK

Leeds United boss Simon Wood says their draw with Stockport County sums up their season after failing to get out of the Women’s National League Division One North again.

Kath Smith put the Whites ahead shortly after the interval, only for Gemma Lancaster to equalise nine minutes from time for the hosts at Edgeley Park.

Leeds had chances to put the game to bed but failed to do so on Sunday as the Yorkshire outfit finished third in the division, with Huddersfield Town promoted as champions.

Wood’s team had to beat Stockport and hope second-placed Cheadle Town Stingers slipped up at Durham Cestria.

But after Cheadle’s win, a result that took them into the play-offs, Wood was left to bemoan what might have been for Leeds yet again this season.

Leeds fall short again

In the 2024-25 campaign, Leeds looked like they could be in promotion contention, only to end up fourth in the table.

The Whites chalked up four more points than last season and finished a place higher, but promotion still eludes them.

Off the back of the 1-1 draw with mid-table Stockport, Wood said this match was a microcosm for their entire season.

He told LUTV after the match, “I think it probably fits in a little bit with the second half of the season. Once we’ve got on top in a game, we haven’t had quite enough to finish the game off, so there’s a little bit of frustration there.

“I think we’ve improved in terms of league position. We feel a little bit of disappointment and a bit of frustration now at this stage of the season.

“We needed to carry on the momentum into the second half of the season, and we haven’t quite managed to do that, but again, this is football, and we’ve got to review it, learn from it, and when we come back next season, we’ve used the experience from this year.”

Leeds Women can still end the season on a high as they face Bradford in the West Riding FA County Cup final next month.

Same old story for Leeds

Goalscorer Smith was disappointed with Leeds’ first-half display, particularly as they had an outside shot of making it into the play-offs.

The Whites were much improved after the break, and after Smith’s goal, Leeds had plenty of opportunities to put the game to bed.

But they were made to pay for their profligacy late on, with Smith saying this is an all too familiar story this term.

She added, “If I’m honest, it probably shows why we didn’t get promoted.

“At times, we have been really good this season – we have competed with the top of the league and beaten really good teams. It’s probably just that consistency, and being able to do it without fault and with perfection.”

Leeds suffered a shock loss to Norton & Stockton Ancient in a frustrating game for Wood, and it was a similar story against Stockport on Sunday.