Halifax FC Women have a new home and a new look on the field this season with plenty of players looking to make their debut in their opening day fixture this weekend. We got the chance to chat to manager Rob Mitchell before the opening game to see what sort of vision he has for the upcoming season. 

EOTA : The first game of the season is fast approaching but looking back how do you feel about where you finished last season after the disruption you had suffered with postponements?

RM: We finished really strongly and in a position to be proud of, we went on a good run and put some really consistently good performances together to finish the season well. For us to be able to finish in the top half considering where we were before Christmas is ridiculous, but all the credit has to go to the players and coaching staff for their commitment, effort and ultimately the will to win when facing adversity.

So here is how our chat went in prior to the first game of the season on Sunday 18th of August...

EOTA : Last season saw you gain promotion to the third tier, what do you think was the key component of fighting off some tough opposition and winning 17 games out of 22?

CH :We were a good footballing team, but I believe we were the best in transition, the most aggressive and persistent out of possession and we were ruthless when we had chances. The team spirit was exceptional from day one, every me ever of the club knew what our mindset and work was towards and that played a huge part in getting over the line in many games.
 
EOTA: The opposition is going to be even tougher in the third division and we know you have been working hard behind the scenes since the end of last season to make sure you are going into the new season as strong as possible, how do you feel those preparations have gone as we head into match day 1?

CH: It's tough. We have had a difficult preseason, for many reasons, but on the pitch the team have focused on what we can control and are working hard to be a better team for that. You're right, there are going to be tough games, against excellent players and well coached sides, but we believe in ourselves and the players we have too. We will be humble and know we have to work hard but fully believe we will get results throughout the campaign

EOTA: There has been a lot of talk of investment going forward from those teams already in tier 3 and people might be writing teams who are not being invested in as much at the moment off or newcomers to the league like yourself off before a ball has even been kicked. How determined are you and the club determined to show just how worthy you are of that spot in the league?

CH: Write us off, that's completely fine with us. No one had us in their challengers for the league last year, but we knew, and we delivered. 
The club knows it has a lot of work to do to be in the position it needs to be to compete at this level, and to put us in a better place. But that takes time. As a team, we can only maximize ourselves and our output. I believe in this group of players and know they have more than enough to succeed 

EOTA: The club are doing away travel for the supporters for the opening game, is this something we are going to see all season? If so how important do you think this is going to be for the team to have a good following both home and away whilst also giving the fans access to games they might have otherwise missed?

CH: It's been a big part of the club for a while now. Last year we regularly took 50/60 fans to away games. We hit over 100 a few times too. The fan culture at this club is great and a huge part of our identity.

EOTA: We has also seen the release of adults season tickets for £60 which includes 2 children access too or a family ticket for 2 adults & 4 children for £100, which in this day and age is brilliant value for all you get & gets the children watching football weekly how important do you think it is to keep the cost reasonable for families to be able to access the game for both a fan & club point of view?

CH: Our attendances over the last 2 seasons have been brilliant  the young fans love what our players bring on and off the pitch. We've grown a culture of supporting HCL. It needs to keep growing, but to have over 400 almost weekly at home games is an incredible achievement.

EOTA: The club are even having a shop with replica shirts for sale and posters, something you don't see from many teams at the lower levels do you hope this is something a lot more clubs start offering to allow the fan-bases to be able to show their support in other ways than just attending games and following on social media?

CH: Yes. We see shirts with players names now around the city. Players are stopped in shops for pictures. It's a culture and it's growing - so for fans to be able to show that proudly is important. 

EOTA: Finally with Sunday seeing the start of the new season do you feel as though you are going into the opening day in the best place possible to try get the league up and running in the best way? 

CH: It'll be very hard, Burnley are 5/6 years into their growth at this level, with exceptional support from the men's club and heaps of experience and knowledge behind the scenes. We are growing into it, it'll take time for us to be consistent and to gain that at this level, but I always back these girls to perform and stand up to anyone on their day.

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.

The Euros this summer have inspired so many people in different ways and here at Edge of the Area we have also been inspired by the brilliant football we have seen and that is why this season you will be seeing some changes from us on the website and social media. The summer left us questioning the direction we wanted to take the site in and we have settled on the fact that we want to solely focus on the women's game from now on, there might be the odd shirt post on social media but the women's game is where it is at now and we are looking forward to making this our main focus. This means a bit of a change around on the site will be happening in the next few weeks to with the main pages changing and a few new additions.

When the site started back in 2019 we seemed to focus on the FAWNL and we started to neglect the FAWSL which is the league that we were previously loving attending so we are going to be changing that this season. We will still be having the FAWNL as we will be at Bradford City doing match reports etc, but from now on we will also be adding a lot more FAWSL content as it has become much more accessible to us with more games on the TV and our internet actually allowing us to play the FA Player without buffering every two seconds.

 Pre-pandemic & starting the site we would venture over to Manchester quite a bit to go watch Man City play however, with the site taking up a fair bit of time we ended up just staying closer to home but it is safe to say that is changing this season. We already have a few Man City games booked in with the aim of booking even more but we also have season tickets for Man Utd this season. Liam has decided that he is a supporter of Man Utd and with season tickets being just £39 each we couldn't resist and we are really looking forward to heading to those games where they don't clash with anything else we have planned. If we aren't at a game though you bet we will be watching whatever game is available on the TV that day or whatever is been shown on the FA Player. 

So what can you expect with us adding more FAWSL content to the site? Well there will be some match reports going up for some of the games we watch, we have found since starting the site match reports are some of our favourite pieces of content to create so if we can get more of these done weekly that will be great. We are also toying with the idea of adding more match previews for the league along with possibly some player profiles over the course of the season, the big thing we want to do those is player interviews with players across all the women's league, this is definitely aiming high but lets hope that as the site grows we can get a few interviews posted. We will also be live tweeting a few games that we are watching from home, this might be one or two a day but we will see how things go as it is still new to us, it is something we are looking forward to doing though and there will be polls to see which games people would like to see us cover.

We are definitely planning on stepping things up a gear this season and we are looking forward to adding even more content to the site each week with a mix of the leagues whilst focusing on the women's game. The countdown to the start of the FAWSL is on and we couldn't be anymore excited for the opening weekend. This season should be a very good one.

If there is any specific FAWSL content you would like to see on the site let us know. 

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.