Bradford City’s women will be hoping for better luck on Sunday after their West Riding County Cup quest was put on hold last weekend when a waterlogged pitch at Thackley saw their quarter-final tie with Leeds City Vixens postponed until January 19.

Now focus turns to the FA Women’s Premier League as City make the short trip to take on arch-rivals Leeds United in a key derby clash at Farsley AFC.

After an uncertain start, City are gradually climbing the table – but there is so little between the clubs in the bottom half, where only five points separate six teams, that a win will lift them into fifth place with games in hand on the clubs above them.

There is also a little matter of settling the score with Leeds after City’s 3-1 home defeat earlier in the season.

In the reserve division, it is top against bottom as leaders City host Sheffield United Community at Rawdon Meadows, while Leeds are at home to second-placed Sheffield FC.

Huddersfield Town are without a game but were unlucky to go down 4-3 at Sheffield in their last outing, despite holding a 3-1 lead at half-time. Abbie Mullen, Alarna Fuller and Alice Linsell were the Town scorers in a game badly affected by the wind.

There are now no games until the new year in the North-East Regional League but while Guiseley were without a Premier Division fixture last week, Ossett Albion were in action in the southern section as their recent run of form came to an end with a 4-2 home defeat to Humberside club Malet Lambert.

Player-manager Nicky Davies, formerly with Bronte Ladies and Bradford City, was given Ossett’s player of the match nomination but an own goal and one from skipper Jo Atkinson was all they had to show for their efforts on a disappointing day.

Brighouse Town moved up to second in this division after goals from Sonya Sweeney, Rachael White and Claire Needham from long range earned a 3-1 win at basement side Westella & Willerby, with Jayne Smith also excelling in midfield.

Town manager Rob Mitchell said: “We played some good stuff against a Westella side who I believe are in a false position. This could have been a banana skin but it’s another three points in the race for top spot.”

There was little Christmas cheer for Kirklees clubs ahead of the Christmas break. Apart from Ossett Albion and Huddersfield Reserves, others experiencing setbacks were Ossett Town, who went down 8-2 at home to Brighouse Sports, and Lepton, who lost 2-0 at Wetherby Athletic, in the County Cup, along with Wakefield as they were beaten 2-0 at home to Leeds United.

In the Women’s West Riding League, Harrogate Railway’s 2-0 win over second-placed Keighley Oaks lifted them to the Premier Division summit. But the lead was shortlived as Farsley completed a 4-0 win over Bradford Park Avenue under the lights at Throstle Nest on Tuesday to leapfrog into top spot themselves.

Dewsbury Rangers are still joint-third in Division Two but they went down 2-0 at Brayton Belles Reserves and, having played more games than their rivals, promotion looks a very long shot.

Bradford City’s A team marched on with a 3-0 win over Norristhorpe in Division Three. After a bright start to the season, Norristhorpe have struggled and the young City team proved too strong as goals from Ellie Rockett, Jess McPherson and Annie Nicol kept them top with seven wins from seven.