Wednesday night saw a bottom of the table clash in the FAWNL Northern division 1, as Bradford City Women took on Merseyrail. This would be the first league encounter for the teams after Merseyrail's promotion into the league this season. The game was a bottom of the table clash with both teams looking to pick up the much needed 3 points and try get momentum rolling to move out of the relegation zone. City were also looking to bounce back after a heavy 6-2 defeat to Hull City on Sunday but as the final whistle blew last night it wasn't meant to be and Merseyrail walked away with all 3 points after a 1-0 victory in a game that could have gone in City's favour if they could just convert that final pass...

City started the game really well, moving the ball around and their first real chance came from Charlotte Stuart's long range effort which found it's way into the Merseyrail 'keepers hands rather than the back of the net. Throughout the first half though City had plenty of opportunities to get the ball through on goal as they were breaking through the middle of the field with ease and putting Merseyrail under plenty of pressure when they were on the ball. City definitely were doing all the hard work in the first half but were just unable to get that final pass right to get them into a position to take a challenging shot. Merseyrail had a few half chances in the first half but they were certainly struggling in the middle of the field with how City's midfield were playing.

The second half started more or less the same way the first half ended but as the half went on Merseyrail were starting to settle into the game a lot more and were starting to stop City getting through the middle so easily. City were really pushing though and stringing some brilliant passes together to get in some great positions however, they still couldn't get that final pass right and Merseyrail were able to clear the danger. There were some great balls into the box from crosses and set pieces but again nothing was connecting from City. Hannah Markey had a great shot which looked like it was going to squeeze into the bottom corner saved by the 'keeper's foot but that was City's most promising looking effort in the second half. City really bossed the possession throughout the game and the amount of chances however, it was Merseyrail who got the only goal of the game when a City clearance fell straight to the Merseyrail player in the most space, at first it looked like she had taken too long and taken too many touches but in the end she got herself into a better position and a brilliant strike saw the ball over City's 'keeper and rattling the back of the net. City tried their best to get something back but it was just not coming together for them and they ended up suffering another defeat and now find themselves sat at the bottom of the table. 

City are really going to have to start getting the results soon if they want to get away from that drop zone, if they could just connect that final pass they really would be a team to be feared but for now they are chasing the results in hopes of staying up this season. There is still a long way to go but with how the teams around them are doing they need to get momentum going as soon as possible. You could see the disappointment on the players faces when the final whistle went, they know they should have got something out of that game so let's hope they can have a good few week in the cup and hit the ground running on their return to league action in November. 

As for our player of the match it once again has to go to City's right back Harriet Jakeman, she had a fantastic game making some good moves forward whilst also tracking back really well to stop Merseyrail attacks when they did break through the City plays. Jakeman doesn't mess around she puts in some very strong challenges which are very well timed too to break down opposition attacks but she also plays a big part in the build up of attacks too. 

City have a few weeks away from the league now so let's hope in this time they can progress in the competitions they are competing in and also work on bouncing back in the league, they are capable of getting the results if they could just get that final pass right.

Exactly one month on from that fantastic Euros win we were sat in yet another stadium watching another very interesting game of football. This time we were watching local team Bradford City Women take on Barnsley Women, with City searching for their first points of the season it was always bound to be a good game as the team gave it their all to get those points but unfortunately at the full time whistle it was Barnsley who walked away will all 3 points and a 0-1 victory. 

The game was mostly well contested in the middle of the park with both teams midfields and defences working really well to put their opponents under pressure and try create a chance for their team. The middle of the field definitely saw a lot of action but unfortunately did the goal City were defending with 'keeper Kirkham having to pull some fantastic saves off in each half with some of the more spectacular ones taking place in the first half to keep the score line 0-0 going into half time.

City had a fair few chances of their own during the game and although they were moving the ball really well around the field, linking up to create some dangerous looking attacks they just couldn't seem to find a shot that really challenged the Barnsley 'keeper. Throughout the full 90 minutes though they were doing well at putting Barnsley under pressure and had them scrambling at the back at times. Barnsley were definitely in front when it came to shots on goal though and it didn't take long after half time for them to a brilliant goal, a lob over the City 'keeper, which would be the goal that sealed the victory for them. 

The officials for this game didn't really help the game as at times things started to get a bit heated both on the touchline and on the pitch with a few clear card opportunities not taken with silly little challenges then going on to be punished. Lengthy injury delays, one for a head injury to City's Stuart & a Barnsley defender and then a challenge where 'keeper Kirkham got injured making a challenge for which she saw a yellow card plus the delays for talking to players to explain decisions seemed to have players stood around for a very long time yet there didn't seem to be much time added on to either half which left us fans in the stand a little confused and I am sure with the momentum City had in the final 5 minutes of the game any extra time would have been greatly appreciated. 

Even after going 0-1 though City kept up the pressure and again were really chasing for that equaliser that unfortunately never came, they never looked like dropping their heads though and after 3 tough results in the league now their attitude and determination doesn't seem to have dropped one bit and you can see they are hungry to get some points on the table and hit the ground running in the league. All the team had a great game really with Woodcock & Stuart seeming to have picked off where they left off last season and Stube & Norde putting in a great performance in midfield if they can just get that final product sorted out the team could really be a threat in the league. Watkins came on in the second half and she has impressed me this season with her speed, chasing the ball down and really putting the pressure on the defenders which came in handy against Barnsley and I am sure it is going to be an advantage to City during the season. O'Hanlon also had a good game making some great runs, reading the game well and holding up the ball ready to pass it off to another City player, as the season progresses and that link up with O'Hanlon and the City midfield settles down and gels a bit more I think we could see a lot of dangerous plays go through those players.

Our player of the match though has to go to Jakeman, City's right back for the evening. Throughout the game Jakeman was standing out to us with some great tracking back and winning the ball back in dangerous positions, keeping the ball in play to keep momentum going and also creating some great passages of play to get City moving forward. Her link up play on the right hand side was great, to say when we first started watching City Jakeman was in a midfield role she seems to be taking to the right back role really well and I am looking forward to seeing how she progresses throughout this season.

The wait for points this season continues for City but will they pick some up in their next game when they are on the road for a game against Stockport County, a team who have picked up 1 point this season so far. Let's hope results start going in City's favour soon.

With numerous new faces featuring alongside old faces for City it was going to be interesting to see how they were all gelling together as a team under the new management but as the game got under way it was safe to say they looked like they had worked hard in preseason and looked like a team straight away, there are obviously some areas that still need working on but as this was the first game for the season that was always going to be the case. City really started well moving the ball around especially in the midfield where Stuart & Stube seemed to be creating some great movement and getting City into some testing positions. There were a few scrappy moments from both teams but with it being the first game of the season it was to be expected with players getting used to each others style of play, City looked the more dominating side in the opening moments however, it was Middlesborough who took the lead after being awarded a free kick on the edge of the area, this was taken brilliantly and put them 0-1 up against the run of play, the goal seemed to help Middlesbrough find a bit of momentum before the half time whistle blew but there wasn't enough time for them to add to their tally in the first half.

Going into the second half 0-1 down didn't seem to let City's heads down though as they came out fighting for an equalizer and again they looked the more dominating team in the second half, chasing the ball down and moving the ball around to get into some dangerous positions but they just couldn't find the back of the goal, that was until a corner was sent into the box and some scrappy defending left the ball at the feet of City's American defender Chynna Harris who eventually turned the ball into the back of the goal to bring the scoreline to 1-1. After the equalizer it looked like the game could go either way with both teams getting the ball into some good positions which left the game feeling pretty tense at times with the chance of the result going either way but in the later stages of the game Middlesbrough gained another corner and just like with the City goal some scrappy defensive work ended with the ball in the back of the goal and Middlesbrough found themselves with a 1-2 lead to hold onto which they did meaning City's first game of the season in a defeat which really didn't do City's performance justice. 

City might have lost their opening game but they never looked like giving up throughout the 90 minutes, when they went behind they kept up the intensity and tried their hardest to get a goal back, this seems to be following on from last season where we saw a massive improvement in the teams reaction to going a goal behind and fingers crossed we are going to see this attitude throughout the whole season, although it would be great not to go behind too often. City definitely looked good to say it is only the first game of the season and I am really looking forward to seeing how they progress this year under the Charlotte Stuart and Gareth Davis because after watching them on Sunday we could be in for an interesting season.

It was good to see a few more fans in the ground on Sunday too with the Euros win seeming to have an effect on people wanting to come down to watch some women's football for a change and fingers crossed the momentum of the attendance growth keeps up into the whole season and beyond as those extra fans getting behind the team could really help shape performances, let's hope they don't drop off when the weather starts to turn.

Next up for City is a trip to York as they take on York City with both sides looking for their first 3 points of the season.  

This season was Chris Hames' first full season in charge almost two years after taking the reigns at the club and it was finally his chance to show us all what he was capable of as a manager. Granted times were tough at stages during the season and results didn't always go in our favour even when we put in some great performances, but the players kept on playing and pushing to get a result which is something they didn't do when we first went to see them, back in 2019 they seemed to go a goal behind and just give up but now they push and have often managed to pull a few goals back due to this determination. This definitely goes to show the growth of the players under the management of Hames which was definitely needed to keep them in the league. 

The team put in some fantastic performances throughout the whole season pulling off some great results but the league was definitely a tough one this season with teams seeming to be on a level playing field which ultimately meant that even after some fantastic performances City were pulled into a relegation battle a few times throughout the season just due to the quality of those teams around them and honestly it was often very tense in the stands when results just didn't seem to fall our way but they a quick check on social media always seemed to show that those around us were having the same sort of luck. The final few weekends of games were spent with a lot of time on social media checking all the results around us as it was so close anyone could have ended up in that final relegation spot but luckily City won their final game whilst those around them didn't have the same luck and somehow with how those final results went City ended up jumping into a 7th place finish. If they had been consistent throughout the season though I really do believe we could have seen them finish even higher but referee decisions and a few lapses in judgement just meant some results ran away from them and towards the end of the season a few points were dropped.

The club had a very good run in the county cup too with them making the semi-finals where they were unfortunately beaten by local rivals Leeds United not long after holding them to a draw in the league game. The run was definitely a good one and everyone in the stands really did believe the team could have gone all the way but unfortunately after a tightly contested game Leeds proved just that little bit too strong for Bradford. The results in the build up to the semi final were great though and showed just how the team were improving throughout the season, even in the FA cup they challenged well but unfortunately fell to defeat in the second round, as for the FAWNL plate they showed potential but after a very tough game against Boldmere St Michaels (who ended up winning their league) City were unfortunately knocked out of the plate on penalties. I am really looking forward to seeing how the club progress through the cup competitions next season though as with the performances they were showing towards the end of the season they have the capability of going pretty far I believe. 

As for the players this season they have all played really well putting in some fantastic performances with Sophie Hawkins picking up some great crucial goals, Maisie Norde putting in some great set pieces to create some brilliant goals for the team and Monika Stube really stepping up in the vice captain role whilst putting in some solid midfield performances however, if we had to pick a player of the season it is definitely between Katy Woodcock & Charlotte Stuart who have both been consistently brilliant over the course of the season grabbing some great goals and covering a lot of the pitch both attacking and defensively. Even with a lot of big knocks from the opposition Stuart managed to carry on the games and really show the opposing teams just what a threat she could be. Woodcock has shown exactly why she is captain too, sat in the stands you can hear her commanding the team and helping pick them up when they have gone a goal behind. 

This season has definitely been one of progression and I am really looking forward to seeing how the team builds in the off season and how they perform in the preseason games as I think if they can keep hold of a fair few players, build up a good bench as back ups for injuries etc they can really capitalise on this seasons progression and make some great progress up the league table and in the cups they compete in. 

What were your thoughts on Bradford City Women's season?

We seemed to blink and the season has flown by this time around and what a great season it has been across many leagues with some very competitive games played all over the country. Our focus this season though was on the FAWNL Division 1 North where Bradford City Women were playing their football and hoping to make progress after a relegation into the league then continuous disruption from the pandemic, they could never hit the ground running and poor Chris Hames was looking to complete his first season in charge 2 and a bit years after taking charge. 

We started watching this league back in 2019 when we started up Edge of the Area as we wanted to write reports based on our local team Bradford City's games and to be honest we very quickly came to fall in love with the league and opted to spend our Sunday's watching this league rather than travelling to Manchester like we used to when we went to watch Manchester City a lot. 

This was our first full season of watching the league thanks to pandemic cancellations, we really did start the blog at the wrong time, but it was great to get really involved and invested in the league as it was an interesting season. There were teams we hadn't seen before putting in some brilliant performances then you had Bradford who really stepped it up a gear this season but more on that in its own post very soon. 

Sometimes leagues are just run by 1 or 2 teams however in this league up until the mid point of the season it really was anyone's league to win with all teams showing what they were capable of however, that did change towards the end of the season when the top 2 Liverpool Feds and Newcastle were starting to gain momentum and run away with the league whilst chasing for that 1 promotion spot. At the bottom of the table it was close for the majority of the season with 3 teams going down, Bradford were trying their hardest to get away from the drop zone however, those teams around them were putting in some promising perfromances too. It would eventually go down to the final few games to decide who went down and luckily for Bradford their performances ended up getting the a mid table finish whilst unfortunately we saw Alnwick, Chester-Le-Street and FC United all relegated from the league. In the final few games Liverpool pulled away from Newcastle too which saw the Feds grab that well deserved promotion. The league was actually that tight towards the end of the season we were constantly checking the results of those teams around us to make sure we weren't back in that danger zone and luckily results were going in our favour.

The league had some great games as I said earlier and it also provided us with a few shock results like Chorley beating high flying Newcastle when they were really pushing for those points to gain promotion, I don't think anyone really saw that coming. Then you have the West Yorkshire derby games of Bradford vs Leeds where City managed to beat Leeds in the home fixture before drawing 3-3 in the reverse fixture. I think these games just went to show how far City have come as previously Leeds would have put a fair few past City without a response but it just goes to show City's improvement.

There were some great attendances in the league this season too and to be honest I think it just goes to show us all how far the women's game has come along in recent years. This isn't even the top league and we saw just over 22,000 fans turn up to watch Newcastle take on Alnwick at St James Park, which shows if you market the games right those fans will make their way through the turnstiles. We also saw over 500 fans at Valley Parade for Bradford City vs Leeds United and for an evening game I don't think it is that bad at all it was during term time and people still headed there with kids even after a long days work. 

I think if the teams that have remained in the league after this season can really capitalise on the progress they have made we could see another very close season with a few surprise names pushing for that promotion spot, I know I would definitely like to see Bradford really making a push for it and they could be ones to keep an eye on as I think with a consistent preseason under their belt we could really see them hit the ground running when the new season begins. Newcastle are another team to watch as with the new owners getting involved with the women's team I think they are going to put the rest of the league through their paces and make an even bigger push for promotion now Liverpool are out of their way. We have seen Hull City relegated to this league too and he question is are they going to bounce straight back up or are they going to take some time to settle into their league?

Fingers crossed next season is as close as this one was as it made for a very interesting league to follow and I am already excited for the new season to begin as weekends are definitely boring without a game to watch, I am even looking forward to heading to some preseason games to see how the Bradford team is looking heading into the new season. 

There have been plenty of interesting moments throughout the season but my favourite games definitely has to be Bradford City vs Leeds United at Valley Parade as I was up in the press box for this one and it was overall just a fantastic game and to see the joy on the City players faces when they won was fantastic, fingers crossed we can see the team at Valley Parade again next season putting in another great performance. 

If you watched any of the FAWNL Division 1 North last season what was your favourite game?

                                         

City started the game off well putting Norton under some early pressure however, they found themselves 1-0 down in just the 3rd minute when Norton & Stockton's corner beat everyone and found the back of the net. City didn't give up though as they worked the ball around well and set up some chances of their own, a few great breaks through defence but the final shot just wasn't wanting to find the back of the net. City's Stuart probably had the best chance during this spell of play when she managed to get the ball past the 'keeper but unfortunately for City one of Norton's defenders had tracked back well and thumped the ball away from danger. 

Although most of the time since the first goal was dominated by City it was Norton who got the next goal of the game to give them a 2-0 lead, the Norton player chested the ball down before firing the ball into the back of the goal leaving City's 'keeper no chance of saving it. Again though City's heads didn't drop and they continued fighting back to try earn something from the game and their efforts soon paid off as a 38th minute goal from Hawkins, who capitalized on a poor clearance from the visitors saw Bradford going into half time just 1 goal behind. 

City came back out from half time fighting and certainly not giving up on the task at hand. City ended up with the first chance of the half when a great ball through to Knight ended up well saved by the Norton 'keeper. City's hard work finally paid off in the 59th minute though when Stuart finally got herself on the scoreboard, a corner was swung in and she managed to make a connection to bundle the ball over the line. It is safe to say the goal was a long time coming from Stuart who had plenty of chances in the first half and kept on pushing to get City into some great positions. 

With the scores level and City pressing for a winner it really did start to look promising for City however, in the 62nd minute Norton were awarded a penalty as City's 'keeper clashed with their attacker. From the stands it did look like a questionable penalty decision and City were protesting the decision but ultimately it was given and Norton converted it to retake the lead and make the game 3-2. 

There were a fair few delays in the game however, City's momentum didn't stop and they kept on pressing to get something out of the game after all they had come back from being 2-0 down and they knew they were more than capable of getting something out of the game. All the hard work paid off in the 82nd minute though when Stuart got her second of the game after a great ball into the box for her to slip it past the 'keeper from close range. Once that 3rd goal for City went in they kept on pushing and pushing for a winner but unfortunately time just wasn't on their side and the game ended 3-3. 

City were certainly unlucky throughout the game and could have easily been a few goals up in the first half but unfortunately a mix of great keeping, defending and miss hit shots kept the goals at bay. To say they went behind twice in the game though to pull it back to 3-3 I think it just goes to show the change we have seen in the team this season they kept their heads held high and kept fighting rather than getting disheartened and giving up which is what seemed to happen so often in previous seasons. 

Our player of the match for the final home game of the season has to be awarded to Charlotte Stuart. Charlotte has put in some solid performances throughout the season and this game was no different, she got herself on the scoreboard twice and helped get City in some great positions. Stuart had plenty of chances in the first half and was a key player in creating chances for others for the full 90 minutes of the game just like she has in previous games this season. Her awareness of the space around her and knowing what ball to play next to advance the team is brilliant and her two goals were well deserved. You could see in her celebrations just what the day meant to her too. 

The draw means Bradford City Women go into their final game of the season with just 1 point currently between them and the relegation zone, with FC United of Manchester still having 2 games to play so we will definitely be keeping an eye on their results as the season draws to a close. The team can definitely be proud though as they thought back twice to get a point from the game and never showed signs of giving up. With each goal you could see what it meant to the team and when the full time whilst blew you could see on the faces of the players just what the result meant. 

Fingers crossed results go in Bradford's favour in the run up to their final game of the season and they manage to avoid relegation as the team's performances definitely don't deserve that fate. 

It was a big game at the Horsfall Stadium yesterday as Bradford City Women played host to Liverpool Feds in a game that has ended up leaving the league table looking very interesting as we approach the end of the season. Going into the game City were aiming to get further away from the relegation zone with just 5 points between them and the drop zone whilst at the other end of the table Liverpool Feds were looking to capitalise on their games in hand and close the gap on 1st place Newcastle United. In the end though it was Liverpool Feds who picked up the all important points from the game with a 2-0 victory. 

The first half was hit and miss for both teams with some scrappy play at times but then some moments of great momentum. City were lucky though with Liverpool being called offside a lot in the first half, they were going for the ball over the top and if they had stayed on side I think we might have seen a few goals early on however, City stepped up and played the offside trap well denying Liverpool early opportunities. For the first half City were moving the ball around well and got into some good positions but unfortunately the ball through on goal just couldn't find another City players feet and Liverpool were able to clear the danger. 

Both teams were putting pressure on each other in the first half but it seemed to be Bradford coming away with the ball more often than not and moving it around the pitch but again they just lacked in that final third and were unable to capitalise on the pressure they had piled on. As I mentioned earlier plays from both teams were scrappy at times but during the first half it seemed to be Liverpool wasting most of the possession with a lot of loose balls into open space for City to collect easily. 

There were a few moments towards the end of the first half where Liverpool picked up pace a little and made some threats on the City goal but two fantastic saves in quick succession and an offside kept the scoreline level at 0-0. The best chance of the half came with the last kick of the half when Liverpool's Pope took a brilliant free kick which seemingly had everyone beat before rattling off the inside of the post luckily for City though Stuart was there ready to clear the danger taking the game into half time goalless. 

The half time team talk for Liverpool definitely seemed to work as they performed much better in the second half but at the same time City also started off the half strong with a great ball through to Hawkins who just couldn't quite meet the ball to get a shot away. Liverpool definitely started adding the pressure as the half went on and it all paid off in the 54th minute, a great ball to the back post found the head of Kinvig who sent a looping header straight into the back of the net which in City's favour didn't look like it could be stopped. 

Once the first goal went in the game could have gone two ways for City, they could have put their heads down like they might have done in previous seasons or they could keep on pushing and try get something out of the game, City decided to take the second option and never showed signs of giving up and they almost got an equaliser for their efforts but unfortunately Hawkins shot rattled the post. With neither team looking like letting up the play was definitely back and forth with chances from both sides but neither team could quite find a breakthrough until the 72nd when Liverpool picked up their second of the game, a great bit of build up play helped Donoghue run onto the ball and slot it home into the bottom corner. 

Even 2-0 down City didn't seem to let up and had a few more chances of their own but unfortunately they couldn't get themselves on the scoreboard and the game ended 2-0 to the visitors. 

City definitely did well going into half time at 0-0 keeping Liverpool at bay for 45 minutes and they created some good space for themselves and some good chances however they just couldn't break down the Liverpool defence or find the target to get on the score sheet. The amount of early offside calls against Liverpool definitely help City out in the first half too. They definitely had the right ideas throughout the game but just couldn't get anything out of it. One of the standout players for Liverpool was definitely number 11 Pope who caused some really problems with some great breaks and plays. Our player of the match though has to go to City's Hawkins who once again put in a real shift throughout the game and really tried to get the team in some great positions and didn't look like giving up throughout her time on the pitch. 

The 2-0 result for Liverpool now takes them just 1 point behind league leaders Newcastle United with a game in hand on their competition and it keeps City 5 points away from the relegation zone however, they need to start picking up point soon as Barnsley who take up the last relegation spot still have a game in hand on City and with just the handful of games left this season it really vital to pick up every point available to move away from the drop zone. I think we are in for an interesting end to the season and I think in City's league it could easily be a very close call at both ends of the table but it is safe to say we are looking forward to seeing how it plays out. 

City didn't start the game particularly well with Alnwick taking the lead after just 3 minutes thanks to a great break straight through the City defence. After Alnwick's early goal the game did look a bit scrappy as City tried to get back into the game and Alnwick tried to hold onto their lead, it was like this until the 12th minute when a fantastic free kick from City's Norde found its way to Woodcock who put the ball into the back of the net to draw the game level. 

In the 21st minute Woodcock got her second of the game in a very similar way to her first, another great free kick from Norde found its way to Woodcock who put City in the lead. Set pieces, especially free kicks, are definitely becoming a threat for City now and it is nice to see them capitalising on Norde's ability to get a great ball into the box. 

Just 6 minutes after Woodcock's second goal Knight extended City's lead with a fantastic curling shot from outside the box which the Alnwick 'keeper had no chance of saving. City didn't stop their though and kept creating plenty of chances for themselves however, the Alnwick 'keeper did well to keep City at bay but that all changed in the 34th minute when Stuart finally beat the 'keeper to get her name on the score sheet. Stuart managed to breakthrough the Alnwick defence and fire it home to take City in to half time with a 4-1 lead.

The second half started off with City creating themselves some great chances but just couldn't add to their lead. City's 5th and final goal came in the 69th minute with Hawkins finally getting herself on the score sheet after being denied so many times previously in the game. Once that 5th goal went in for City they still continued to press and look for a 6th however, they just couldn't find the back of the net one final time and the game ended 5-1 to the home team. 

City definitely started off slow however, once they really got into the game they looked threatening on the attack and at times they moved the ball around really well. As for our player of the match pick I think it is safe to say there are a few players who could walk away with this however for us it is a tie between Stuart and Hawkins. Both these players had a great game and made an impact on the game for the full 90 minutes. Stuart and Hawkins both got on the score sheet but they also created some great passages of play to set up some great chances for each other and the rest of the team.

This was City's first game on their new pitch and I think overtime we are going to see City really use this pitch to their advantage. It looks a lot wider than Eccleshill's pitch was and with the use of those players out wide I think they could really challenge the opposition and create some issues for them. There is also the bounce for the ball to take into consideration ow too as that can cause trouble for both teams and we saw a few times today that it is going to be something that City need to get used to too, if they can get used to it and use it to their advantage they could definitely cause issues for the visitors. 

This win now leaves Bradford City 4 points above the drop zone with games in hand on the teams directly above and below them, I think it is safe to say times are changing for City and it is nice to see them picking up the points they deserve. 

Let's see if City can keep the momentum going in their next game when they are away to Stockport County. 

It is a return to league action for the Bradford City Women first team on Sunday as they take on Alnwick Town Ladies at their new home... the Horsfall Stadium. It is safe to say we should be in for a treat with this game as Bradford are trying to build momentum on the field to pick up those all important points to avoid the relegation zone whilst Alnwick are trying to gain their first win of the season. 

Alnwick are playing their first season in the league and I think it is safe to say that it isn't going too well for them so far as they are sitting at the bottom of the table on just one point, they do have quite a few games in hand on the teams around them so they will be looking to make an impact and try to change their fortunes around. 

As for Bradford they are going into this game in 9th place in the table just 5 points behind 8th place FC united with 4 games in hand. If Bradford can pick up points from this game it is bound to send out a warning signal to those teams around them who are also wanting to avoid the drop. On the other hand though Bradford are still just 1 point above the drop zone so they will be hoping to keep the momentum going from their past few games to get a bit further away from those teams also fitting to avoid relegation. I think if Bradford can find their feet on the new ground quickly we could see them really build on from their recent league draw with Leeds United where the team gave it their all to earn a point even after going behind a few times. I think this just goes to show how the team is really progressing this season as they aren't seeming to give up when decisions and results go against them they are really fighting to prove themselves, something that as a fan is great to see. 

Bradford are definitely going into the game in the better form but we have seen this season form means nothing in this league and anything can happen and with fixtures starting to build up. Bradford are definitely going to be giving it their all to keep that momentum going and to show those they will be playing soon they are not a team to be taken lightly. We are seeing so many improvements from the team and let's hope Sunday's result shows that. 

This is the sides first meeting and with it being on a new ground for Bradford too I think we could be in for a good game with both sides wanting those all important 3 points. With it being a pay what you want scheme at the turnstiles lets hope we also see plenty of fans come out to support the team at their new home and really get behind them to get that win. 

If you are free on Sunday afternoon definitely head down to the Horsfall Stadium to see for yourself how this game plays out. 

Kick off : 2:15pm 

Venue : Horsfall Stadium, Cemetry Road, Low Moor, Bradford, BD6 2NG

Tickets : Pay what you want 

It is all change for Bradford City Women as they will play out the remainder of the season at their new home, the Horsfall Stadium. The team are moving away from their now former home in Eccleshill to begin a new partnership with Bradford Park Avenue. 

I actually quite liked heading to Eccleshill as it wasn't too difficult to get to and the ground its self wasn't too bad to say it was a non-league ground. However, I am really looking forward to the new chapter for the club as the Horsfall Stadium is definitely one of the best facilities in the City and should be really really beneficial for the club in the long run. Not only that but it is a lot closer for us to get to which we can't complain about. 

The Horsfall stadium is one we are familiar with thanks to the Bradford city men's team playing against Bradford Park Avenue in preseason at the ground alongside us attending a whole host of events at the stadium such as charity rugby games. It is safe to say this partnership should help align Bradford City Women within the community as it is just one of the great sports teams that will now be playing their games at the ground. 

Probably the best part of this move though is the partnership that it creates with Bradford Park Avenue and their women's team. We have seen in the men's game how the two Bradford teams work together with City players heading out to Park Avenue to gain valuable game time to help them progress in the game. If we can see a similar thing in the women's game I really do believe it will be really beneficial for those players on the verge of breaking into the first as they can go off get some game time and work on their game rather sitting on the bench watching on and waiting. It will also create the opportunity for dual registration players which again will be just as beneficial as a player going out on loan. 

The move and partnership is also going to be a very good way for more girls in Bradford get into the game and hopefully progress through the ranks to end up in the Bradford City Women's first team, it just gives them another avenue to achieve this and will hopefully keep young players at the club(s) for a longer period of time rather than going off elsewhere looking for opportunities. Fingers crossed this is just the first for partnerships with local clubs to give more young players in the City a pathway into the club and give them more opportunities to develop and work towards joining the Bradford City Women's club in the long run. 

With Bradford City Women partnering up with Bradford Park Avenue I really do believe that this is just one step towards how the club is working on developing behind the scenes, now the Foundation have seen the club in action and what needs improving I think this is just the start of developments we are going to see from the club both on and off the pitch and I think we are going to be seeing a pretty big difference with the club over the next few seasons as everything starts to gain momentum. We have already seen results start to change and with the off field changes from this season and into the future I think us fans could be in for a treat. 

The first game fro the club at Horsfall was due to be on the 27th of February however, rearrangements from cancelled games has meant the first game will now be Sunday 6th March vs Alnwick Town Ladies, with the game being a pay what you want on the day fingers crossed we see a lot of fans filling the new ground to give the team a boost for them to finish the game with those all important 3 points to get further away from the drop zone. 

With us now being in the second half of the season every point picked up counts more than ever to keep the team away from relegation so lets get Horsfall filled with fans to create a great atmosphere and really get behind the team. I have a feeling this ground move is only the beginning... 

Bradford City Women returned to Eccleshill to face FC United of Manchester Women under the lights for another all important FAWNL league game that was always bound to be a good game with both teams looking to improve their current form and get a win under their belt. The game was a big one for Bradford though with the chance to pick up 3 points to lift them away from the relegation zone and with games in hand on those around them in the table every point from games in hand is vital. The game definitely didn't disappoint those in the crowd with Bradford putting on a brilliant performance and walking away with all 3 points after an impressive 3-0 victory. 

It was United who had the first chance of the game with an early free kick which found itself going out of play for a City goal kick. From there though it took them a while to get their next chance as City picked up pace and really started to show just what they are capable of when they put some great passes together. It took just 4 minutes for City to get on the scoreboard with Jakeman playing a great ball through to Stuart who slots the ball into the far corner to give City a deserved early lead. It was nice to see the team go ahead for a change and keep up momentum and pressing the opposition rather than taking their foot off the pedal and sitting back. United did try to draw level with City struggling to clear their lines after some good pressure from United however, the eventual shot went wide without troubling City 'keeper Kirkham. 

After that small bit of pressure City picked up momentum once more and in the 12th minute Stuart got her second of the evening, a loose ball back to the United 'keeper was closed down very quickly by Stuart who deflected the ball around the 'keeper and hit the ball in the back of the net. From there on out City just looked more motivated than ever and even had a possible goal ruled out for offside. United did keep trying to apply pressure to get a goal back but after rattling the crossbar and some fantastic saves from Kirkham they just couldn't find the back of the net. 

City went into half time 2-0 up and had certainly put on an impressive display in the first half which looked a lot better than some of the performances so far this season, they just looked stronger and like they wanted those 3 points more than ever. 

The second half was just like the second with City looking the more dominant side throughout with United having a few spells of pressure which didn't amount to much due to a brilliant defence and absolutely fantastic goalkeeping. In the 52nd minute City wrapped up the game with their 3rd and final goal of the evening, Beck went on a great attacking run and ended up riffling the ball into the top corner giving the United 'keeper no chance of saving the ball.  From this point both teams were trying their best to grab a goal however, the game ended 3-0 to City and the performance gives us all hope for the rest of the season. 

City's performance against FC United was a much better team performance with a lot of positives to take from the game, they started the game strong and kept on pushing to get the most out of the game. They chased the ball down and put pressure on United, creating some fantastic chances for themselves and getting themselves into some dangerous positions. The team moved the ball around well throughout the game creating some great paces and getting into space to go on the attack and it was nice to see the passes linking up well and plenty of attacks taking place. 

In terms of our player of the match me and Liam both agreed it could have gone to a fair few players as each one had strong parts of the game however, we both settled on a joint player of the match as it was too difficult to pick between 'keeper Kirkham and Stuart. Both these players had fantastic games with Kirkham making some brilliant saves to keep a clean sheet then you have Stuart who got 2 early goals and showed no signs of slowing down throughout the time she was on the pitch even with all the knocks she was taking from the opposition. 

This game gave Bradford those all important 3 points and lets hope City can make it 6 from 6 as they face Barnsley Women at Eccleshill on Sunday. If they play like they did against FC United I think they are in with a good chance. 

Sometimes you just can't beat night games and this time Bradford City Women are back at Eccleshill under the lights as they take on FC United Women on Thursday 10th February in a 7.45pm kick off. It is the first of two home games for Bradford City Women this week and this game is going to be an interesting to get the back to back games started as both teams are looking to get back in form and pick up those all important points. 

Earlier on in the season when these teams faced off for the first time FC United took away all 3 points after a 3-1 victory and they seemed to be a very strong looking side however, injuries seem to have taken its toll on the team and they aren't doing as well as I expected at this stage in the season. It is the teams first season in the league and with games being postponed the lack of consistency is likely to have effected them just like it has the other teams. They have played more games the Bradford so far this season though so it will be interesting to see how they play compared to that game earlier in the season as Bradford look to be making progress as the season goes on but again the lack of consistency in games seems to be having an effect on the results. 

Bradford are going into this game off the back of a 2-2 draw away to Chester-Le-Street where as FC United had their game this weekend postponed so they will be going into the game with fresher legs after the break at the weekend but surely that isn't going to effect the game too much as Bradford manager Chris Hames seems to have got the team giving it their all each game so far this season and even when they have looked tired they have still pushed on and played well in the games. The whole mindset of the team seems to have shifted and you just know they are going to give it their all whether they played on Sunday or not. 

Looking back on the form of the two sides it is City who are going into the game with 1 win, 1 draw and 3 losses in their last five games whereas FC United are going in with 4 losses and 1 draw. Let's just hope the FC United don't find their form this game though and City can pick up those all important points to get them away from the danger zone they find themselves in at the moment. 

FC United are currently sat in 8th place in the table on 13 point where as Bradford are down in 11th on just 8 points, Bradford do have 3 games in hand on their opponents though so it is vital they start picking up points from the games they play as they will finally start to move up the table and away from those relegation spots. 

It is bound to be a very interesting game on Thursday night with both teams hoping to pick up the points and start to pick up pace in the league but fingers crossed Bradford start making those games in hand count and take away all 3 points from this game. 

If you are stuck for something to do this Thursday why not head down to the Mitton Group Stadium to see how the game plays out and if City can pick up their first points of the week. 

Kick off : 8pm

Stadium : Mitton Group Stadium, Eccleshill United FC, Kingsway, Bradford, BD2 1PN.

Tickets : Adults £5, Under 16's Free. 

On Sunday we saw the return of FA Women's National League action at the Mitton Group Stadium in Eccleshill as Bradford City took on Newcastle United, with it being the first home league game for Bradford since September 2021 and Newcastle sitting second in the league at the start of the day on a good run of form it was always bound to be an interesting game and it certainly didn't disappoint, except for the final score for us Bradford City fans.  

The game started off with quite a few throw ins to each side as the ball spent a lot of time out on the wings however, nothing would really happen until the 6th minute when Newcastle took the lead, City 'keeper Richards came out to collect from a corner but was unable to clear the ball and the ball fell to the head of Newcastle's Robson who headed home from close range. Not long after the goal Bradford found themselves playing with 10 on the field as Katy Woodcock found herself in the sin bin, City held on though and kept up a strong performance even with a player down for 10 minutes. 

Throughout the whole first half Newcastle looked the stronger of the sides and kept on pushing for that second goal but they just couldn't find the back of the net. They had a lot of chances on goal however, City's Stuart was there to clear the Bradford lines a fair few times and when she wasn't 'keeper Richards was making some great saves to deny Newcastle a further lead. The teams went into half time with Newcastle winning 0-1 which in all honesty could have been a whole lot more but City were doing well to keep the score line looking reasonable at the break. 

Whilst the first half was a very one sided affair the second half started off well for Bradford City. Straight from kick off they went on the attack and gained a free kick in a dangerous area, the resulting goal for Knight saw Bradford draw level in the 46th minute. It really looked hopeful that Bradford could put up a fight and stay in the game but then the run of play changed once again. Around the 50th minute Newcastle really started to find their feet again and picked up their attacking pace once more and in the 53rd minute Newcastle took the lead once again, City 'keeper Richards originally got her hand to the ball to make the initial save however, the ball fell to the feet on Newcastle's Barker who slotted it home to gain the lead. 

The 56th minute saw Newcastle take the lead even further with an absolutely brilliant goal, which there was no stopping. The strike was riffled home from around 30 yards by Newcastle's Guy and there was absolutely no chance of it being saved especially with the bit of a swerve it had on whilst heading towards goal. City picked up pace a little bit after the 3rd goal and started linking some great passes together but in the 71st minute Barker picked up her second goal of the game and extended Newcastle's lead to 1-4 with a brilliant volley that made its way into the back of the net. It didn't take long for Barker to pick up her hat-trick as her shot in the 75th minute bounced over the line after hitting the bar. 

Even though Newcastle were 1-5 up they still kept pushing to increase their lead but some strong defending from City and some brilliant goalkeeping from Richards kept them at bay until the 90th minute where Newcastle ended the game with one last goal, this time from Ferguson who broke through defence and took the ball around Richards to end the game 1-6 to Newcastle. 

Looking back on the game it is safe to say Newcastle are a fantastic team who have the potential to remain top of the league for the remainder of the season as they are a very strong side and move the ball around the pitch well. At the same time though City had spells where they played well especially in the first half when they kept Newcastle's lead to just 0-1 when it could have easily been more, plus at times they moved the ball well around the pitch. Sometimes though they just looked defeated and like they had lost all hope even with the scoreline still in an achievable comeback range. There were some positive takeaways from the game though with Woodcock having a pretty good game in defence despite the scoreline along side Shepherd who also made plenty of crucial tackles throughout the 90 minutes. Richards also had a good game in goal making some brilliant saves to deny Newcastle plenty more goals and it is great seeing her confidence grow as the season progresses, she is definitely willing to go for the ball a lot more than at the start of the season. 

Our player of the match though definitely has to be Charlotte Stuart once again. She covered plenty of the pitch winning some important challenges in the middle of the field and she made some very important challenges in the defence to stop Newcastle in the first half and she continued stepping up and making important challenges even whilst catching a few knocks in the process. 

Newcastle definitely showed us how good of a side they are and fingers crossed Bradford can bounce back from the defeat in their next league game as they take on Durham Cestria away, fingers crossed we can walk away with some points from that game.