BRADFORD City Women put on a dominant performance to progress in the West Riding County Cup as they ran out 7-1 winners over Harrogate Railway at the Mitton Group Stadium.
City started brightly and were ahead in the eighth minute as Sophie Hawkins and Harriet Jakeman combined to find Charlotte Stuart who finished confidently past visiting goalkeeper Charlotte Donnelly.
The Bantams kept up the pressure but wasted a number of opportunities before Jakeman picked up a loose ball and thumped it into the roof of the net to double their lead.
With 33 minutes gone, Railway halved the deficit as Emma Lansdall picked up the ball, broke clear and slotted the ball into the corner of Tiff Whelan's net.
64’
— Bradford City AFC Women (@bcafc_women) November 21, 2021
GOALLL!! Another assist for Robets from a freekick that is placed outside the box, that finds Woodcock for a great header past the keeper pic.twitter.com/vwYHmu3b4j
Whelan was making her first team debut, and apart from that one incident had very little to do for the rest of the game.
Bradford continued to push forward and by half-time Stuart had completed her hat-trick with two similar low finishes past Donnelly.
City manager Chris Hames shuffled his side at half-time, bringing on Tori Thomas and Maisie Norde for Stuart and Hawkins.
Bradford used the advantage of attacking downhill to create a number of good chances, but it wasn't until the hour mark that they scored again, Zoe Roberts picked out Jakeman for her second of the afternoon.
Only three minutes later skipper Katy Woodcock headed home a trademark Roberts free-kick before Jakeman completed the scoring and picked up her third when she pounced on a rebound as Donnelly spilled Norde's low shot.
Monika Stube had some good chances towards the end but fired wide, and Donnelly made a number of fine saves to keep the score down.
City Women's reward is a trip to Yorkshire Amateur Women in the third round of the competition, with the tie set to be played on Thursday, December 16, at 7.45pm.
City Women are next in action this Sunday when they travel to Chorley in the FA Women's Cup second round (1pm kick-off).
📝| We are delighted to announce the arrival of Elle Scott to the club.
— Bradford City AFC Women (@bcafc_women) November 23, 2021
Elle will be familiar to City supporters after her spectacular long-range winner for previous team Sheffield FC against us a few seasons back.#BCAFCWomen pic.twitter.com/n73LuS7Nm3
Meanwhile, Bradford City Women bolstered their squad today.
The club announced the arrival of Elle Scott.
City tweeted: "Elle will be familiar to City supporters after her spectacular long-range winner for previous team Sheffield FC against us a few seasons back."
City Women's strength and conditioning coach Adam Smith left the club last week to pursue a career in rugby league.
Hames tweeted: "Cannot understate the job Adam has played in helping us establish a more professional, more robust and far fitter outfit at Bradford City Women.
"His work lays the foundation for our future. And we will miss him. Thanks for everything Ad’s!"
City line-up v Harrogate Railway: Whelan, Shepherd, Woodcock (c), Stuart (Thomas 46), Hawkins (Norde 46), Stube, Gill, Prothero, Roberts. Sub: Richards
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here