The Women’s first team are through to the next round of the cup after a game packed with goals against rivals Leeds Met. The Gryphons threw away a 2-0 lead in the second half before a penalty from Lauren Davies and a wonderful solo effort from Emma Cooper ensured victory.

The game itself was not as open as the score line suggests. Chances were few and far between in the opening half hour as the teams battled for control of possession in the midfield.

The majority of the players struggled to make an impact because of this and were slow to get started. Fran Barrett was an exception however, as her pace and dribbling on the right wing troubled the Met fullback every time she was on the ball.

Barrett capitalised on her domination of the right flank by scoring the game’s first goal on the half hour mark. Played through by Davies in the midfield, her pace overwhelmed the Met left back and she was left through on goal to finish beautifully across the goalkeeper.

Things got worse shortly after for Met as Uni doubled the lead four minutes later. Hannah Roberts was left unmarked from a low cross delivered from Barrett and had no trouble beating the helpless keeper.

The break at half time was just what the away side needed as they came out sharper and scored twice to bring the game level. Both goals came from careless mistakes in the Uni defence.

A mistake from the keeper for the first and a lack of communication between defenders in the second quickly launched Met right back into the tie. It appeared that the Gryphons’ confidence was hit at the equaliser and that they would be lucky to be level after ninety minutes.

But five minutes later they were presented a gift from the penalty spot. Barrett was holding on to the ball at the edge of the area but was going nowhere until the centre back tripped her from behind in a mad rush of blood to the head. Midfielder Lauren Mitchell took the penalty and calmly slotted past the keeper.

The best was yet to come from Gryphons’ Emma Cooper, who scored a lovely goal after dribbling from her own half to weave through the Met defence and the win for the Gryphons.