BRADFORD (Park Avenue) were involved in the first of two meetings with Wakefield Trinity u23 in North-east Regional League, Southern Division.

Before the game, the traditional minute’s silence was impeccably observed at Horsfall Stadium.

Avenue were playing against the wind in the first half, but Bethany Vickers sent the ball rolling into the net, for a 1–0 lead with barely ten minutes on the clock. Vickers attempted a second, but the ball flew back in the wind. Wakefield’s attempts on goal were thwarted by Liv Duxbury, Jade Nelson, Emily McNulty and goalkeeper Annie Roberts. There were further chances for both sides, but Bradford took a slender 1–0 advantage against a strong side into the second half.

On the hour-mark, Millie West’s excellent corner-kick was deflected into the net for Avenue’s second of the afternoon. Substitute Alice McUrich had only been on the pitch three minutes when she created a set-up for Nic Chamberlain to pounce on a mix-up at the back, to fire past the keeper. Trinity eventually pulled one back, a superb strike from distance by débutante Jess Tate.

As the clock wound down, Wakefield were hoping there was time for another goal or two. But Avenue finished it off, Vic Moore sending a through-ball for Nat Bell to sprint up and catch the keeper off-guard for a fantastic 4–1 victory.

Farsley Junior First were playing the first of two games against Millmoor, as they recorded their first win of the season. On target in the 6–3 win were Kim Clydesdale, Keeley Tottie, and a pair of braces for Shauna Hill and Sarah Lawn.

There were limited matches in the West Riding County League, as most teams were involved in the League Cup Qualifying Round. In the First Division, Ilkley Town ran out 5-0 winners over a much-improved Tyersal, with goals from Shareen Munir (2), Izzy Macina, Chianna Rebair and Eva Curran.

In their Second Division match, Thackley Reserves and third-placed Hall Green United created many chances, with good play from Dennygirls’ skipper Becky Teale, Kirsty Setchel and Tash Williams, but it was goal-less at half-time.

Soon after the re-start, Thackley keeper Emily McKinley picked out Hope Nicol, who calmly placed the ball in the back of the net. Thackley continued to search for a second goal, and this eventually came eight minutes from the end as Hope Nicol did not disappoint. Thackley Reserves can look forward to next weekend’s game at Hepworth Devs with confidence, as both sides are defending 100% records.

In last week’s Third Division game, Queensbury Celtic travelled to Kinsley, hoping to bounce back from recent defeats. The first half saw Queensbury creating many chances but couldn’t finish them, apart from Katie Waters’ goal mid-way through.

The second half saw Kinsley scoring a quick-fire double to take the lead, with an injury to Queensbury’s goalie mid-way through leading to them completing the half with 10 ‘men’. But a spirited stint saw Katie Waters’ equalizer, a string of saves from stand-in goalie Jess Maurice, and a late winner from player of the match Louise Clark.

Bradford City FITC u18 hosted Castleford White Rose in a West Riding Girls’ League top-of-the-table clash that saw City going behind early on. But a quick-fire Madeline Jordan brace, followed by a Cas equalizer made it all-square at the break. Megan Woollias scored the winner that saw City overtake Cas at the top of the u18 Division.

Meanwhile, in the West Riding FA Junior Cup, there were wins for both City’s u15s, who beat Garforth Rangers 9–0, and the U16s, who won 5–2 at Wigton Moor, to go through to the Quarter-finals.