Our local women’s football teams have been involved in several key games over the last seven days, not least Bradford (Park Avenue), who were at Skipton Town for a West Riding County Women’s Football League Premier Division fixture.

Skipton Firsts were hoping to end their season on a high, having led the division until earlier this year.

A goalless draw against Silsden and a loss at Harrogate Railway had seen them fall behind Leeds Medics & Dentists, who have recently gone 10 games unbeaten and a rampant Leeds Modernians side.

Bradford went into this away game after confidence-building wins in the League and Shield.

Avenue were 1-0 behind at the break, despite having very good spells of possession and playing some great attacking football.

Skipton’s keeper made several fantastic saves but Avenue couldn’t quite find the back of the net.

The second half saw Avenue continuing to fight hard, with player-of-the-match Demi Molinari solid throughout.

Millie West was on target for Avenue before Emily Throup completed her hat-trick for Skipton.

Meg Butterworth hit a magnificent strike to get Bradford back in the game, as they pushed for an equaliser, but it was not their day as they lost 3-2.

Poor Skipton are level on points with both Leeds sides at the summit, with all sat on 40 points, but they are third with the worst goal difference.

Skipton’s league campaign is over now too, as is that of the Medics, but Modernians still have four games left to play.

As for Bradford (Park Avenue), they have a local derby against rock-bottom Brighouse Sports at Horsfall this Sunday, as they eye up a fifth-placed finish in the league with four games to go.

Silsden were at home to Sherburn White Rose in the division and put in a great team performance in difficult conditions with strong winds to earn a well-deserved 3-1 win.

Manager Richard Chattoe included Kaitlin Wildman in the starting line-up, and she responded with her first goal for the Dragons, a brilliant solo effort.

Anna Fryers’ brace completed the scoring in the victory, with Sherburn out for revenge when the two teams meet again on Sunday, May 5 in the League Cup semi-finals.

There is currently an enthralling three-way fight for leadership of the County First Division.

Farsley Celtic beat Hepworth United 4–1 in midweek, before Ilkley Town faced a tricky tie at Hepworth United's Far Lane ground.

Ilkley endured a difficult first half, and had to remain patient, before pushing on in the second half to secure a 4-0 win.

They currently top the table by just the one point, with Leeds Hyde Park just behind the Celts, two points off Ilkley.

Ilkley and Leeds have two games left this season, while the Celts only have one to go.

There is also a three-way fight at the top of County Second, in what has been a memorable season for the West Riding league.

Bradford City’s Under-21s are still challenging for the title, after a 5–0 victory over Boroughbridge at the weekend.

This Sunday, they play current leaders Athletico at Teasdale Street, but the picture is not as clear due to the threat of Knaresborough Town.

Athletico top the table by eight points, but the Bantams youngsters have three games in hand on them.

Knaresborough are only a point behind City, but have played five games less than Athletico.

Further down the table, Burley Trojans and Queensbury Celtic were involved in a double-header at the rec.

The first game saw a brace from Troggs’ Charlotte Keane, and one from Queensbury's Player-of-the-match Lily Greenwood, meaning Burley had a 2-1 advantage at half time.

A young Queensbury side gave their all, and went toe-to-toe with their stronger opponents for large parts of the games.

Unfortunately for them, the second half saw quality set-pieces and strong finishing from Burley, as Naomi Myhill and Nic Frankland added to the score-line, with a Heather Fisher hat-trick making the final score 7-1 to the Troggs.

The second game added to a tough day at the office for Queensbury, as Troggs’ experience shone through, leading to a 5-1 win.

Bradford Telegraph and Argus: Queensbury Celtic put up a real fight against Burley Trojans across their two games against them.Queensbury Celtic put up a real fight against Burley Trojans across their two games against them. (Image: HCW Photography/Huw Williams.)

Meanwhile there are five or six teams vying for the County Third title.

Skipton Town Development played two very similar games against Lower Hopton Development at Leeds Road Playing Fields.

Both teams defended well, with both games ending in narrow 1–0 victories for Skipton Devs, who moved up to top spot in the table.

Field had many chances in the first half against Harrogate Railway Reserves at Chelsea Road, but it was goalless at the break.

Field had most of the possession in the second half, but the deadlock wasn’t broken until late in the game.

Charlotte Hill headed the ball goalwards before the keeper parried it onto the feet of Amelia Jackson, who made no mistake and smashed it home.

Soon after, Meg Sparkes picked up a long ball from defence, set herself up and calmly powered the ball home, to give Field a 2-0 win.

The result sees Field still unbeaten in the League and three points off the leaders with three games in hand, including this Sunday’s double-bill at home to Pontefract Sports & Social.

Tyersal’s game with fourth-placed Pontefract Sports & Social was switched to Harewood Avenue.

Once again, struggling Tyersal gave it their all on the day, but the match ended in an 8–0 defeat for them against their superior opponents.

Tyersal play Crofton Sports on Sunday in a double bill at Arkwright Street.

Halifax FC Women will be playing in the FA National Women’s League Northern Premier Division next season, after results elsewhere confirmed their survival.

Their latest game saw them secure a 1-0 win at home to Derby County, after Drew Greene’s lovely finish midway through the first half.

Sunday’s game sees another home match at Roxholme Road, this time against Newcastle United, who beat Huddersfield Town 10-0 at the weekend.

The latter result meant that Newcastle are back-to-back champions, but also unfortunately it saw Huddersfield relegated.

That means they will face two West Yorkshire derbies next year against Leeds United.

Leeds put in a stellar second-half display in FAWNL Division One North at the weekend, as they brushed aside Chorley with a 4-1 victory at Cedar Ridge.

Their player of the year Jess Rousseau grabbed a brace, as did substitute Kath Smith.