LEEDS, May 7 (SW) - Leeds ladies final match of the season against Everton, marked the end of Karen Walkers playing career having announced her retirement after Monday’s Cup Final. Everton were still chasing second spot and a possible place in next season’s Charity Shield and although this was officially a home fixture for the Toffees the unavailability of their ground Rossett parchment the game being switched to Leeds and a muddy Garforth.

The small crowd which included Fulham keeper Leanne Hall were treated to a typical end of season game which had its moments.
Strangely Everton were in their away strip as they took the field and were on the back foot from the kick off. Leeds piled on the pressure winning a couple of corners then a free kick before Everton got into things and mounted an attack of their own. After only two minutes Leeds had a great chance when Sue Smith charged down a Lindsay Johnson clearance to race into the area. He shot looked goal bound but somehow went wide of Rachel Brown’s post. Everton then pressed forward with Jody Handley and Michelle Evans switching flanks to cause trouble and win a series of corners. The next clear cut chance however fell to Leeds when Mel Cook fired a high ball for Karen Walker to latch onto but keeper Brown and Fern Whelan combined to snuff out the danger. Everton continued to push up winning another corner. It was cleared at first but Rachel Unitt knocked the ball back into the danger area where it bobbled about before being pounced on by Amy McCann who hooked a low shot into the right hand corner. In the last minute of the half Leeds almost got this goal back when a corner kick went all the way to the back post where Lucy Ward sliding in got a touch. But she was only able to send it into the side netting.

Leeds tried to push forward in the second half but were restricted to long range efforts which Brown easily mopped up. The Everton's Jody Handley pressed forward only to be felled by Jess Clark. The ref had a little chat with Clark but didn't show a card. When the free kick was finally taken both Unitt and Handley ran over the ball to leave Fara Williams to fire in to the top right hand corner from 35 yards out. Everton sensed that they had the points but Leeds continued to battle away until a Leeds attack resulted in a penalty when Fren Whelan handled in the box. If Karen Walker wasn’t going to end her playing career with a win she was at least going to get on the score sheet steeping up to take the kick she send Brown the wrong way shooting to her right. The last part of the match was lively with both sides looking for goals and Evans could have wrapped the points up for the Toffees when she was clear in on goal but shot wide. So it ended 2-1 and with Charlton winning their match against Sunderland 6-0 the fight for second spot goes down the last match next week between Everton and Charlton.

Everton – Leeds United 2-1 (1-0)

Goals: 27. Amy McCann 1-0, 53. Fara Williams 2-0, 74. Karen Walker (penalty) 2-1

Referee: Rob Byrne

Attendance: 65