The Ladies’ first-team returned to competitive action at the weekend, with a trip to bottom of the table Bradford City. Find out how they got on through the words of manager Steve O’Hara, in our latest weekly update.
County move up to third in the League:
After a couple of weeks without a competitive game Steve O’Hara’s First Team were eager to get back to match action away to Bradford City AFC Women
Back in early September, Bradford had won the corresponding home fixture, securing a 2-3 victory with a late penalty. County were eager to avenge that result against a side that, since then, have been struggling at the foot of the table.
Steve O’Hara describes how the game unfolded :-
“A stop-start month ended with an away trip over the Pennines to Bradford City.
We started positively, dominating the first half with an aggressive pressing game that resulted in three goals within the first 15mins, giving us an unassailable lead.
Em Bradshaw opened the scoring with two absolute rockets from outside the box, and then, to the delight of the whole team, there was a first County goal for Fran Davies! This is something we have been working on for a long time, trying to get her on the end of a set piece.
We never let Bradford get into the game at all. That showed with keeper, Faye Bowness, not having to make a single save all game!
The second half was a little scrappy, but we could sit back a bit and soak up the pressure, as Bradford had the wind at their backs.
Around the 70th minute we made some changes, which instantly paid off. Ella Ritchie grabbed the fourth after great run from Maria Figueiredo, before Eva Craney-Barnie scoring her first goal for the first-team, to make it a five-star performance!
I think this was our best performance of the season so far and it moves us up to third place in the league, the Club’s highest position since promotion; something we are incredibly proud of.
We still have a long way to go, with nine League matches remaining, but we are in a great position to kick on now.
Elsewhere, Rachel Davison has recently signed for the Club, alongside fellow ex-Tranmere Rovers player Rachel Unsworth. Emma Lysons has also returned to County, after starting the season with Merseyrail. A warm welcome to all three, who will strengthen our squad going into the final third of the season.”
Our next First Team game will be at home on the 12th February, when we host Norton & Stockton Ancients at Stockport Sports Village. Entry is free to all Stockport County season ticket holders.
