Birmingham 3 Leeds Carnegie 2
The goal that delivered victory was worthy of any stage, Maz Gauntlett drifting in from the left and swerving home a tremendous effort into the top-right corner from 25 yards or more in the 59th minute.
By that stage Birmingham had contrived to take - and then surrender - a two-goal first-half lead to leave the crowd breathless.
After Kate Holtham had hit a half-volley wide for the visitors early on Blues went ahead five minutes in when a ball in from the flank was flicked on by the impressive Amy McCann for Becky Hall to scramble in her second in two games from close range.
Eight minutes later Blues were in dreamland thanks to McCann who lofted a fine effort over keeper Leanne Hall from the edge of the area after Wales forward Milly Durrant had battled to make the space from Hall’s cross.
Stung into action Leeds hit back ten minutes later, Jess Clarke’s pace taking her behind the Birmingham defence and the fleet-footed winger retaining the ball to fire into an unguarded net despite the plunging Sue Wood getting a glove on it.
Wood was in action again within moments, brilliantly clawing away a long-range effort from Carla Cantrell. Blues finally cracked three minutes before the break as Steph Houghton stole in front of Wood to convert Mel Sutcliffe’s near post cross with a brave header.
Houghton was within inches of turning the game on its head in the first minute of added time, her dipping 25-yarder dropping just over with Wood back-pedalling.
Blues midfielder Krissy Torkildsen fired over and Hall had a shot charged down before Gauntlett’s goal-of-the-season contender restored the advantage to the hosts.
Leeds almost levelled in the 69th minute when Cantrell whipped in a low centre from the left which flew in front of lunging sub Jade Moore, it was returned with interest from Clarke on the right but Moore’s desperate attempt again fell agonisingly short at the far post.
McCann headed onto the roof of the net in the 90th minute and Leeds responded within seconds, England ace Sue Smith driving in a low cross from the right inches between Houghton and Wood with Clarke failing to connect at the far post.
Two minutes into the eventual seven added Hall made space down the right and her cross saw McCann send a thumping header narrowly wide of the near post but the game was won.
Teams, Blues: Sue Wood; Faye Cardin, Natasha Lynch, Kerys Harrop, Katy Ward (Laura Husselbee 70mins); Milly Durrant (Penny Andrea, 74), Krissy Torkildsen, Heather Scheuber, Becky Hall; Amy McCann, Maz Gauntlett (Kate Moran 94). Subs not used: Keeley Lowe, Jenni Foster.
Booked: Gauntlett (obstructing free-kick, 62min).
Leeds: Leanne Hall; Mel Sutcliffe (Sophie Walton, 90), Gemma Bonner (Sophie Bradley, 59), Lucy Ward, Steph Houghton, Olivia Thackeray (Jade Moore, 59), Kate Holtham, Jess Clarke, Alex Culvin, Sue Smith, Carla Cantrell. Subs not used: Julianna Draycott, Emily Scott.
