Bradford City women can repay Harrogate Railway (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)

Bradford City women can repay Harrogate Railway

7:20pm Friday 26th October 2012 in Sport By Mike Popplewell

In their early days, Bradford City played a number of games on the grounds of non-league clubs around the West Riding to help promote women's football.

Harrogate Railway were one of those, and now the second round of the West Riding County FA Women's Cup has given City the opportunity to repay the compliment.

Railway are currently doing well in the West Riding County Women's League but City, who go to Wakefield on Sunday looking for the win that will keep them in the hunt for promotion to the FA Women's Premier League from the Northern Women's Combination League, should prove too strong.

Among the other clubs hoping to clinch a place in the quarter-finals are Keighley Oaks, at home to Castleford White Rose, Guiseley, at Rothwell Town, Kirklees, at Tingley Athletic, and Huddersfield Town at Farsley.

These ties will take place on Sunday, November 18th, while this weekend Town face a tough game at second-placed Chorley in the Combination.

In the North East Regional Women's League Premier Division, Ossett Albion go to Malet Lambert still awaiting their first league win, while Kirklees should pick up the points at bottom club Goole.

Bradford City A go to Westella and Willerby in good heart after their 6-1 thrashing of Wetherby at Rawdon Meadows.

Chelsey Faulkner was in keen scoring form with four of the City goals, while Kerry Playle and Becky Teale completed the rout.

Third Division newcomers Cleckheaton Sporting failed to break their duck in the West Riding County Women's League when, despite a much-improved performance and goals from Jodie Howard, Laura Mitchell and Laura Morton, they went down 6-3 at Dewsbury Rangers.

It was a first win for Rangers but while they are without a game this week, Sporting have another chance to get that elusive first win when they entertain an Ilkley side also looking for their first points.

Bradford Park Avenue, without a league game this week, saw their survival hopes suffer a setback with an 8-4 defeat at home to Hemsworth in the West Riding Premier Division but they will be hoping for better luck on Sunday when they are at home to Farsley in the League Cup.

There was disappointment for the Ossett clubs in the West Riding County Cup, with Albion, facing FA Premier League giants Leeds United, crashing 18-0, and but for a great second-half display from keeper Kim Nallon, they might have needed the scoreboard on the adjacent cricket pitch.

Meanwhile Town went down 13-0 at Northern Combination outfit Leeds City Vixens but there was better luck for Huddersfield Town, 8-2 winners at Lepton, Kirklees, who won 6-4 at Wigton Moor, and Tingley Athletic, 4-1 victors at Silsden.

Guiseley also progressed, thanks to a convincing 5-0 win at home to Brayton Belles, and they return to regional league action on Sunday at third-placed Barnsley.

* Bradford City Women's under-18s stayed top of their league after a 7-1 triumph at Pontefract Coyotes last Sunday.

City controlled the game from the off, passing the ball with confidence, and took the lead in the first minute courtesy of Rhiannon Brewster.

At half-time, the Bantams found themselves 4-0 up with further strikes from Lucy Turner, Jess McPherson and Molly Sharpe.

City continued the good work in the second half and added three goals from Turner, McPherson and Sharpe.

Pontefract scored a well-taken goal on 80 minutes but the day belonged to City.