Bradford City Women suffer painful Stockport defeat

The visitors finally got their just rewards, after a string of good performances so far this season had failed to yield a win.

City were without a couple of key players. Club captain Zoe Roberts was out injured and Chelsea Stanford was still recovering from the nasty cut to the head she sustained against Leeds United Ladies.

The opening goal of this game came on 15 minutes. A Stockport corner was swung in from the right and a header deflected off a couple of players and found its way into the net.

County's second came a couple of minutes later, with a dangerous cross converted by an unstoppable volley.

City started to get back into the game, as Falone Sumaili headed the ball against the foot of the post and Meg Maxted had a shot well saved by the Stockport goalkeeper.

But the Bantams conceded a 30th minute penalty when keeper Aimee Routledge collided with the Stockport striker who had broken through on goal. Routledge went the right way but couldn’t stop the well-taken penalty.

In the second half, home manager Steve Winterburn brought on Jemma White and Jenny Clark in midfield. City started to dominate but the Stockport defence stood firm.

The hosts then found themselves four down when a rare Stockport attack ended with another unstoppable strike from 15 yards out, after the ball broke to the visitors' striker.

With five minutes to go City got a deserved goal back. Sumaili latched onto a back pass after some good closing down, she intercepted the ball on the edge of the area, rounded the keeper and walked the ball into the Stockport net.

Missing players, a slow start and missed chances all cost City, who will have to sharpen up if they stand any chance of getting anything from Liverpool Feds, who beat Norton & Stockton 5-0 on Sunday, this weekend.

Bradford City Reserves also had a disappointing day, going down 6-0 at home to a rampant Blackburn Rovers side at Rawdon Meadows.