BRADFORD City Women’s FC endured a character-testing week as the first team and reserves suffered damaging defeats in the FA Premier League.

With the first team away to leaders Coventry City on Sunday, coach Steve Winterburn has his work cut out lifting the side.

It was always going to be tough for City at last year’s champions Sheffield, despite beating them earlier in the season, and the South Yorkshire side exacted revenge with a 3-2 win after twice holding a two-goal lead.

Charlotte Stuart kept the Bantams in the game with a superb free-kick from distance and Molly Sharpe grabbed a second in the 81st minute but Sheffield held out for the points.

City remain top of the Reserve Division but they lost their unbeaten record when the trip to second-placed Newcastle United went horribly wrong. A delay in leaving Bradford, coupled with the long journey, seemed to unsettle them and a disputed penalty in the second minute saw them up against it.

After going 2-0 down, Vicki Rich and Laura Midgeley scored from from Ami Nolan’s dead-ball kicking to level the scores but another penalty restored the home side’s lead and they eventually ran out 5-2 winners.

City reserves are back in action on Sunday at Eccleshill United with a derby against Guiseley Vixens, who were 6-1 winners over Huddersfield in their last outing.

The Guiseley first team are going well in Division One (North) and hoping to overcome leaders Liverpool Marshalls Feds at home. A win for Julie Grundy’s team would leave them just four points adrift of top spot with a game in hand.

Bradford Park Avenue secured a 4-3 win over Keighley Oaks in the West Riding County League Premier Division with an own goal and one each from Annie Roberts, Vicky Mladenovic and Lauira Wolfenden. Former Avenue striker Mel Houldsworth was on target for Keighley.

Avenue’s next game is at a Hemsworth side fresh from a 3-1 win at leaders Ossett Town.

After going 3-0 down former City striker Caroline Omboyi pulled a goal back in the 63rd minute but Town failed to make another breakthrough.

Division Two leaders Bradford City A beat Thornes 7-0 but Battyeford Belles stayed hard on their heels with a 2-0 win at home to Middleton Park.

At the other end of the table Dewsbury Rangers slipped up again when they went down 5-2 to Ilkley Town to drop into joint bottom spot with Thornes and Norristhorpe in three points. Fran Senior and Emma Tootill were the Rangers scorers.

This week Battyeford go to Brayton Belles reserves and in the other Second Division games Norristhorpe go to Ilkley Town, Dewsbury go to Thornes and Bradford City are at Middleton.