Sunday 8 February 2015
West Riding County Women’s League – Division Two
Bradford City beat Middleton Park 6-0 home on Sunday (8 February 2015) in an hard-fought game. It could been worse but for a fantastic display from Middleton keeper Natasha Bibby who made some fine saves to deny City numerous times.
Bradford started the game the brighter of the two sides and forced Bibby into a great save early on after Laura Gadd was through on goal. However Middleton managed to limit their chance to long-range attempts outside the area.
Middleton started to get into the game around the fifteen minute mark with more possession of the ball but they couldn’t break down the Bradford defence. However it wasn’t long until City were on top again. Kerry Player saw her header hit the post from a corner before Gadd was denied by another save from Bibby in the Middleton net.
Gadd had been played through on goal but her low shot was smartly saved by Bibby down to her left. On 18 minutes Bibby made a fantastic double save to deny Kathryn Connell from a corner before the next corner saw Lauren Tate opening the scoring with a fierce strike which crashed in off the crossbar.
Connell then doubled City’s lead with a tidy finish on 25 minutes after beating the offside trap. Going into half-time the score was 2-0 to City.
Middleton had their first real chance of the game at the start of the second half after Sophie Sterling set up Anna Milde but she couldn’t get onto the end of the ball and the City defence managed to clear.
City increased their scoreline on 63 minutes after a cracking 20 yard strike by Gadd left the keeper with no chance. Bradford’s fourth came five minutes later through Hope Nicol whose initial shot was saved but she managed to tap in the rebound.
Good play down the left-hand side by Jade Harrison gave Middleton their first corner of the game but Bradford easily cleared.
Gadd then missed an open goal before a fifth goal was tapped in by Broadbent after 77 minutes. Middleton had a chance to score a consolation goal late on but Fynley Smith saw her shot blocked before the City defence cleared their lines.
Bradford rounded off a fine victory on 87 minute after Amra Ruszkai scored the sixth and final goal of the game.
A disappointing defeat for Middleton which leaves them rooted to the bottom of the league, but they will be grateful of a fine display from Bibby in goal.
This post was written by Daisy Young using our Create an article for South Leeds Life page.
