BRADFORD City Women bowed out of the FA Women's National League Plate on Sunday, losing their heavily delayed clash against West Yorkshire rivals Leeds United Ladies 4-1.

An own goal brought underdogs City level at the break, but a pair of quickfire second half goals set Leeds on their way to the win.

After weeks of waterlogged pitches, the Bantams had the game moved from a home fixture at Eccleshill United to the artificial pitch at Thorpe Arch.

They had not played a game for over three weeks due to the weather, while Leeds had been comprehensively beaten by Barnsley in the FA Cup last weekend.

City were slow to start on what was an unfamiliar surface and it was Leeds who had most of the ball in the early stages.

The new hosts had a couple of chances at the start of the contest, hitting the post from a corner and having a cross cum shot spectacularly tipped round the post by Bantams keeper Aimee Routledge.

Leeds did get the breakthrough on the half hour when a cross from the right was slotted home at the far post but Bradford did not have to wait long to pull level, as Leeds inadvertently put the ball in the net for a second time.

A straight forward back pass caught the Leeds goalkeeper unawares and the ball rolled agonisingly over the line for an equaliser, making it 1-1 at the break.

City started the second half with a bit more purpose and were starting to compete more in midfield, but that did leave some gaps at the back.

Leeds took full advantage, as they scored twice in two minutes with a pair of very different goals.

The first was a tap in but that was followed by a 25 yard strike that skidded through on the wet surface to beat Routledge.

With the Bantams floored by that double, Leeds capped off the scoring with a penalty 10 minutes later.

On the whole Leeds were deserved winners but towards the end of the game, exciting young Burundi forward Falone Sumaili was brought on to bring some much needed pace to the City attack.

She combined well with Monika Stube and Harriett Jakeman to put the Leeds defence under pressure but the hosts held out for the final 15 minutes to go through to the next round of the plate.

Meanwhile, in the FA WNL Reserve Cup, Bradford City Women's Reserves took on Leeds United Ladies Under-23s and suffered a heavy 6-1 defeat in Keighley.

Leeds raced into a 4-0 lead after 55 minutes. City's Ellie Edwards then pulled a goal back, before two goals in the final ten minutes saw the visitors cruise to victory.

CHRIS ROUTLEDGE