Bradford City Ladies hope to close gap on Chorley (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)

Bradford City Ladies hope to close gap on Chorley

4:12pm Friday 8th February 2013 in General By Mike Popplewell

Bradford City, unbeaten in the league, resume their quest for the Northern Combination championship when they go to Middlesbrough on Sunday playing catch-up.

A run of blank weeks, due to the weather and FA Cup arrangements, has left them ten points and three games behind leaders Chorley.

They did finally get their FA Cup second round tie at Nottingham Forest played but they crashed out 6-3 despite goals from Mel Garside-Wight, her ninth of the season, Bridie Hannon and Jodie Redgrave.

Leeds United progressed 3-2 in their third round game against West Ham and they now go to Watford.

Huddersfield Town can do City a favour when they entertain Chorley, while in the North East Regional League Premier Guiseley take on York City, at Nethermoor, looking for a third successive win after a last minute 5-4 victory over Whitley Bay. Caroline Hulme (4) and Alana Fuller were the Guiseley scorers.

In the Southern Division, Bradford City, who entertain Malet Lambert, gained a welcome point from second-placed Westella & Willerby, an understrength Keighley Oaks went down 6-0 to a Rothwell team boasting a 100 per cent league record, and Kirklees had Claire Needham and Jayne Smith on target in a 2-2 draw at Millers.

No joy for Ossett Albion, however, whose only consolation at Doncaster Rovers Foundation was a Rachel Barber goal in a 4-1 defeat. Albion now entertain Rotherham-based Millers.

Harrogate Railway are top of the West Riding League Premier after a 7-3 win over Wakefield reserves while Bradford Park Avenue, at Wortley in the League Shield on Sunday, were without a game as Hemsworth were in County Cup action.

Brighouse returned to action with an emphatic 7-1 win at Ossett Town in the league - they must now meet in the League Cup - while in Division Three Dewsbury Rangers had a 3-2 win at Thornes. Bradford Park Avenue's under-18s have a home game with Wigton Moor in the Harrogate and District League while leaders Bradford City are without a game.

In their last outing Moor beat City 7-2 after extra time in the League Cup, with Brighouse going down 3-0 to South Leeds City in the other semi-final.