There was plenty of entertainment on offer at Stockport Sports Village on Sunday, as our County Ladies team played out a five-goal thriller against Bradford City. Find out all about it in our latest weekly update!
First-team edged out by Bradford City:
The First Team are still looking for their first victory of the season after losing a rollercoaster match to Bradford City AFC Women on Sunday.
After a scrappy first ten minutes the game settled down and County soon started to dominate. This was rewarded on 20 minutes when Jess Rawstron teed up Jess Battle to finish, for County’s first goal of the new season. It was a lead County deservedly held on to, to lead 1-0 at half time.
The second half got underway with both teams not creating any clear chances, but County’s luck turned on the 65th minute when an awkward deflection, and a freak bounce from the spinning ball, wrong-footed Charlie Bolland in the County goal.
This deflated the County side but Bradford were reinvigorated by their stroke of luck, and scored again ten minutes later. Steve O’Hara made several substitutions and the team pressed to regain the advantage, with their efforts rewarded on 85 minutes when great approach play by substitutes Em Bradshaw and Tamia Forrester gave Jess Battle the opportunity to double her tally, which she duly did.
The celebrations had not long finished however when a long ball from the Bradford half found their striker through on goal. Fran Davies’s challenge denied the chance but the referee gave a foul and Bradford scored from the resulting penalty.
County pressed hard in the last four minutes but were unable to rescue a point on a very frustrating afternoon.
After the game Steve O’Hara was disappointed not to take any points:
“Absolutely gutted not to get the win today. I thought we played some really good stuff first half, but second half we took our foot off the gas. At this level you get punished if you don’t put the game to bed. Good second half by Bradford, but we need to go again and results will come”
Reserves and Development side in action:
In other games this weekend, the Reserves kicked-off their season in the FAWNL Reserve Division North with a home tie against Middlesbrough Reserves. In a tough fought game they too, unfortunately, were on the wrong end of a 2-3 scoreline.
The good news for the weekend was provided by the Development Team, playing their final friendly before starting their campaign in the Cheshire Women’s and Youth League Premier Division next weekend.
The young team, who are graduating from playing at Youth level last season, came away 5-2 victors against a very experienced Egerton FC side who have played at this level for many years. Goals came from four different players, Summer West (2), Josie Etheridge, Abby Lester and Chloe Howard getting in match time whilst suspended from FAWNL action.
Next up…
Next weekend we travel away to Peterborough for our first match in the FAWNL League Cup, hoping for a first win to kick-start the season.
