BRADFORD City's highly successful head coach Steve Winterburn finds himself in unfamiliar territory after seeing his side lose four of their first six matches in the Northern Division of the FA Women's Premier League.

Following a 4-1 defeat at home to leaders Stoke City, with Danielle Whitham scoring a late consolation, City take a break from league action this weekend as they travel to Teesside to take on Division One strugglers Norton & Stockton Ancients in the League Cup.

There have been a number of changes to last year's squad in the opening weeks to this season and Winterburn can perhaps expect a settling-in period.

But there was a promising debut for Abbi McIver against Stoke, following her transfer from Sheffield FC, and the coach's track record suggests the current inconsistency will soon be ironed out.

There were no such problems for City's second string as they finally got their season underway at Stockport County in the Reserve Division. They came away with a 5-3 win thanks to a Laura Etford hat-trick and a goal apiece from Aqsa Mushtaq and Zoe Roberts.

Guiseley Vixens have withdrawn their reserve side from the league but a much-improved performance from their senior team at home to Nottingham Forest came close to securing their first points in the Premier Division, as the 2-1 scoreline suggests.

Former Bradford City and Ossett Town striker Caroline Omboyi was among three debutants in the Guiseley side but it was Nadine Bates who grabbed their goal after a Katie Welham header had been cleared off the line.

Vixens boss John Shirt will now be hoping to see his side go into their game at home to Derby County tomorrow with renewed confidence.

Bradford Park Avenue's FA Cup adventure proved short-lived after going down 3-1 at Winterton Rangers in a second qualifying-round tie.

It was a good all-round performance from Avenue against their East Midlands Regional League opponents but a Katie Dormer goal proved their only reward.

Avenue are without a game in the West Riding League Premier Division but, in Division One, Bradford City A are at Leeds Medics & Dentists, Ilkley open at home to Hebden Royd and leaders Battyeford Belles travel to an Oulton side beaten 6-2 by City last week. Second-placed Silsden are without a fixture.