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| Nicky stoops to head home the 3rd |

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17th
August 2008
Preston North End Reserves 4-3 Bradford
City 'A' Team (F)
Claire
Popplewell 50, 81
Nicky Davies 86
Bradford City A Team continued their pre-season build up with a match away to Preston North End Reserves at the impressive
Preston Sports Arena. Preston play in the same league as the likes of Leeds, Liverpool, Newcastle and Everton reserves so it was always going to be a stiff test for the
Bradford side. The game started at a fast pace and Preston got the best
of the early exchanges posing a threat with some fast attacking football. City battled well to combat this but Preston scored from one of those breaks on the 10 minute mark. City were getting more and more into the game but again Preston
scored with a fine strike from 25 yards in the 22nd minute. City were 2 down but increasingly threatening to get
a goal themselves. As the game approached half team City had several chances but somehow the Preston goal remained
unbreached and the teams went into the halftime break with Preston leading 2 nil.
The second half began as the first half ended with City dominating play and creating chances. Their bright play was
rewarded when a fine shot from Chelsey Faulkner was only parried by the keeper and Claire Popplewell was on hand to steer
it into the net. City pressed for the equaliser but on the hour mark Preston again broke away and made it 3-1.
Again City played most of the game in the opponents half and threatened to score on several occasions only for Preston to race down the other end and score to make it 4-1 with 15 minutes to go. Many teams heads would have gone down at
this point but not the A team who continued to dominate playing some splendid football.
As the game entered the last 10 minutes Nicky Davies won the ball in midfield with a strong tackle. The ball came to
Becky Bostock who made a strong run and with an inch perfect pass found Popplewell who had made an intelligent run inside.
Popplewell took the ball in her stride and hit it first time from the edge of the area with a shot that soared over the keeper
to score a great goal that was the least City deserved. 4-2 to Preston. City began to force a series of
corners putting enormous pressure on the Preston defence. Becky Fickling who was taking them from the right delivered some
excellent corners, one headed by Vicky Wood just sailing over the bar. The defenders Hannah Wardman and Clare Armitage were
coming up for the set pieces and their presence looked a dangerous threat. The pressure resulted in a free kick near the dead
ball line 5 yards outside the penalty box. Popplewell took the free kick picking out Nicky Davies at the back post who was
waving her arms about like an air traffic controller. Davies met the ball with a brave stooping half diving header that found
the back of the net. The last 5 minutes was constant City pressure as thy strove to get the deserved equaliser but to no avail
and the game ended 4-3 to Preston.
The partnership
of Faulkner and Davies was again full of promise and the youngster, Faulkner gave a very mature and brave display against
some very robust defending. The midfield had more balance when Wood moved there from defence and Armitage and Erin Rosenberg
warmed to their relatively new positions throughout the second half giving excellent displays. Lucy Green made some good saves
and her kicking was good as well. It was an exciting game to watch and a game from which City will learn a lot. There are
many new faces so at this stage of the season it was an excellent performance. As a team we will defend better as the season
progresses but it was a brave and gutsy performance and in the second half City played some excellent football.
| Wood heads clear |

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| Chelsea takes on the full back |

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| despite being battered all game. |
17th
August 2008
Collingham Tadcaster LFC 3-8 Bradford City 'A' Team (F)
Claire Popplewell
2
Sarah Binns 2
Nicky Davies
3
Chelsey Faulkner 1
Bradford City A Team began their preparation for the new season with a friendly away to Collingham Tadcaster LFC.
It was a very promising performance for the first
game of the season with the new players blending in well. Lucy Green made her senior debut sharing goal keeper duty with Amy
Larner. Laura Gadd, Hannah Wardman, Erin Rosenberg and Claire Armitage began in defence. The midfield consisted of Becky Bostock,
Vicky Wood, Sarah Binns and Clare Popplewell with Chelsey Faulkner upfront and Nicky Davies playing just behind her. Alice
Rogan was the sub and came on at the half hour mark to play on the right wing.
The first half consisted of City playing quite
well and scoring only to concede a goal on the break . This happened
on three occasions so the teams found themselves 3-3 at halftime. Wood switched to sweeper and her experience calmed down
the defence who looked very solid in the second half. This solid platform allowed the midfield to take charge with Binns and
Bostock working hard in midfield with good support from the wings.
The
pairing of Faulkner and Davies worked extremely well , with Davies getting a
hat trick and Faulkner’s hard work rewarded by a goal which was celebrated as much by Davies as the goal scorer.
On Monday City‘s promotion to the NERWFL Division 1 South was confirmed. This is
great news for the team and a just reward for last season’s effort. The result and performance on Sunday were good but
it is only a very small step on what should be a challenging but enjoyable season.
'A' Team Match Stats and Results 2007/08
5th May 2008
LEAGUE CUP FINAL
Leeds
City Vixens 0-2 Bradford
City 'A' Team
Clare Fawcett (76,88)
Bradford
City retained their 100% record for the season but only after an epic Cup Final encounter with rivals Leeds City Vixens
Leeds
were first out of the blocks and the Bradford defence needed to be at their best to keep the Vixens at bay but City finally
began to make their way into the game and almost took the lead on the half hour but the woodwork came to the Vixens rescue
and an outstanding save from the Vixens keeper from point blank range and the game remained without a goal at the half time
break.
The
second half produced plenty of end to end action to keep the supporters on their toes and the game could have gone either
way but it was Bradford who eventually made the breakthrough when Claire Fawcett stayed cool to place the ball into the bottom
corner of the net.

The
Vixens tried everything possible to get back on level terms but the City defence and the hard working midfield dominated and
in the last 5 minutes Clare Fawcett nailed it for City and the Vixens heads dropped. A highly entertaining game throughout
but when Fawcett doubled City's lead they knew they had achieved the double. Congratulations Girls!

20th April 2008
Leeds
city Vixens 1-3 Bradford
City 'A' Team
(L)
OG (60) Clare
Fawcett (7)
Mel Garside (52)
Olivia Duxbury (79)
City travelled to Leeds City Vixens for the final league match knowing that victory would put them in the record
books with a 100% record. It was always going to be a tough task against second place Vixens but a determined City stamped
their authority from the off and got the better of the early exchanges. There
was a steely determination throughout the side and in the seventh minute they were rewarded with a goal after good work down
the right flank. This resulted in Claire Popplewell receiving the ball in the box and a good pass found Clare Fawcett who
calmly steered the ball home. The half wore on with City having more possession and chances but Vixens looking dangerous when
they attacked. Keeper Jess Mallison and the defence looked solid and reacted well when Vixens threatened. There were no further
goals and the teams finished the half with City one to the good.
Vixens started the half brightly but City worked hard and after five minutes of the half began to get on top again.
In the 52nd minute Mel Garside picked the ball up 7 yards in from the touch line and at least 30 yards from goal
and unleashed a shot which sent the ball just off the ground through the Vixens defence like a guided missile and into the
bottom left hand corner of the net. One of the best goals this correspondent had ever seen, better
than some sensational ones seen at the home of football, Turf Moor. 2-0 to Bradford City.
City were well on top and should have coasted from here but on the hour mark a Vixens corner resulted in a goal to the home team making the score 2-1 to the visitors..
Danielle Domanski, who kept us entertained all afternoon including a couple of sensational dance moves when she allegedly
had cramp, had nothing to do with it, apparently. Jayne Barber came on for Hannah
Wardman as City changed to a back three. This seemed to settle City down and once more they imposed themselves on the game
and looked the better side. Their good work was rewarded with an excellent goal from Olivia Duxbury in the 79th
minute. The two goal lead restored, confidence oozed through the team and they were unlucky not to get a fourth when a Garside
strike was ruled offside even though it seemed the referee had originally waved play on.
The final whistle went with City 3-1 victors and sitting proudly on top of the table with a 100% record. Well done
girls. Well done Steve. What a season. I am so proud of you, I think if I’m honest, Burnley might only be
my second favourite team!

13th April 2008
Bradford City
'A' Team 8-2 Morley Spurs (L)
Melanie Garside (6, 9, 11, 18)
Claire Popplewell (23)
Laura Gadd (61)
Clare Fawcett (75, 82)
The
final home game of the season for league champions Bradford City was against Morley Spurs. City looked lively from the off and within twenty minutes enjoyed
a 4-0 lead with all of the goals being netted by Mel Garside. The first was a breakaway and a cool finish in the 6th
minute. A spectacular overhead kick gave Garside her second in the 9th minute. The third was a good example of
the fine football City were playing. A measured clearance from keeper Jules Jeffries found Claire Fawcett on the right wing. Her fine pass
found Garside who had her first shot blocked by the keeper but a neat chip converted the chance. It was some more good work
from Fawcett that led to Garside’s 4th goal. Another clinical finish from the City striker and Bradford were
4-0 up in the 18th minute.
City
were full of invention and a nicely worked short corner from Neely Murrell and Fawcett picked out Nicky Davies whose shot
looked to be going wide only for Claire Popplewell to launch herself towards the ball and a tremendous diving header thumped
the ball into the back of the net. 5-0 after 23 minutes. Morley fought bravely throughout and were rewarded with a goal in
the 26th minute to make it 5-1.
The
second half started with City making two changes due to illness with Garside and Murrell being replaced by Louise Lindley
and Olivia Duxbury respectively. As the half wore on City looked the most likely of the two sides to score as the half progressed.
City made another change early in the half when Jayne Barber replaced Davies. City were
awarded a free kick and from at least 25 yards Laura Gadd found the top right hand corner of the goal with a superb strike
to make it 6-1. Clare Fawcett followed up her first half assists with two excellent goals herself in the 75th
and 82nd minute. In between that brace City were awarded a penalty when Jayne Barber was pulled down in the box
only for an excellent save to deny Hannah Wardman a goal. Also before Fawcett’s second Morley pulled another back and
the game ended with an 8-2 win to the home side.
Another
strong performance from Bradford City and another game which shows the strength of the squad with all 14 players involved and
contributing well. Thanks to Stephanie Barraclough who acted as substitute keeper as Jeffries was carrying an injury.
6th April 2008
Bradford City
'A' Team 3-1 Lepton Highlanders (F)
Clare Fawcett (23,78, 84)
With
16 players on hand for this friendly it was always going to be difficult to settle and play good football. Although there
were only a few good passages of play, overall the management were very happy with the players. Thankfully Clare Fawcett
had her goal scoring boots on and secured a win with an excellent hat-trick. Next week City take on Morley at home.
30th March 2008
Leeds
City Vixens P-P Bradford
City 'A' Team (L)
water
logged pitch apparentely!
No
Report
23rd March
2008
Bradford City 'A' Team 3-1 Bradford PA (Valley Parade Torn)
Nicky
Davies
Emmie
Kinnear
Neely
Murrell
City
won 3-1 on penalties after grinding out a 0-0 result with 10 players for half the match.
16th March
2008
Bradford City 'A' Team 3-1 Bradford PA (semi-final)
Melanie
Garside (43)
Kelsey Byrne
(50)
Clare
Fawcett (70)
Emmie
Kinnear (79)
A good crowd
watched the first competitive meeting of local rivals, Bradford City
and Bradford Park Avenue in the semi final of the West Riding Girls League Open Age Cup. It was a blood
and thunder affair with the away side having a game plan of filling the middle field and taking the game to City. An experienced
City side coped well and showed good composure when required. An even first half but with the clear cut chances going to the
home team, it looked liked the sides would go in at halftime level. In recent games Neely Murrell and Mel Garside have been
developing an excellent partnership and it was these two that broke the deadlock. Good work from Murrell freed Garside who
found the back of the net to make it 1-0 with only two minutes left of the half.
The second half
started with City looking to impose themselves but the visitors were having none of it and an excellent strike from Kelsey
Byrne in the 50th minute levelled the scores. City had to make changes due to illness and injuries with Captain
Jess Pearson, Garside and Murrell being replaced by Danielle Domanski, Emmie Kinnear and Olivia Duxbury respectively. As the
half wore on City began to play better and better football and always looked the most likely of the two sides to score. It
was Clare Fawcett who put the home team back into the lead in the 70th minute when she showed great composure in
the penalty box before firing home.
Emmie Kinnear
put the tie beyond doubt for the home team making it 3-1 in the 79th minute with a super strike showing what a
quality forward this young lady is. Talking of young ladies Hannah Wardman had another excellent game in the centre of defence
and is in a fine vein of form. Well done to Bradford
Park Avenue who battled all the way but
it is City that go through to the final where they will meet Leeds City Vixens. It will be the 4th game (ko time
to be determined) on Monday the 5th May at Ossett Town FC. Mel G that’s
Monday the 5th of May. OK? The U14’s and 16’s also won their semi final’s and are also through to the finals at Ossett. The U14’s are game 2 on Sunday the 4th and the
16’s are the second game on Monday the 5th. Three teams in the finals is a great achievement for the Club
so get the dates in your diary and let’s get behind our teams.
9th March
2008
Lepton
Highlanders 0-3 Bradford
City
'A' Team (L)
Claire
Pops, (1)
Melanie Garside, (4)
Neely Murrell, (60)

Bradford City A Team made a perfect start to their crucial away game at Lepton Highlanders taking a two goal lead within
the first five minutes. In a game where victory would secure the West Riding
County Premier League City imposed themselves from the start. Lepton kicked off but City were soon in possession when Laura
Gadd won the ball and found Neely Murrell who passed it to Melanie Garside who
knocked it on to Claire Fawcett whose shot was blocked. Claire Popplewell pounced on the loose ball and found the back of
the net from a narrow angle. Excellent football from City rewarded by an opening goal in only 22 seconds. Popplewell who had
failed to score in our last competitive game against Pontefract, ending a run of scoring in 6 consecutive games, was wasting
no time getting her name back on the score sheet.
City showed
their class in the opening minutes dominating proceedings. Murrell picked up the ball in midfield and chipped it over the
defence for Garside to race onto and calmly slot the ball past the keeper into
the back of the net. 2-0 to City with only four minutes gone. The pitch at Lepton has a difficult slope from side to side,
but Bradford adapted very well and continued to dominate for
the first 25 minutes. The rest of the half was a little more ragged but it was City who looked the most likely to score and
the teams went in at halftime with the Bradford side 2 to the good.

|
| Neely Murrell |
Hannah
Wardman, our very own Action Woman was again having an excellent game in the centre of defence. A typically brave, hard but
fair, tackle resulted in a lengthy stoppage as she and the Lepton forward needed treatment. Lepton exerted some pressure but
the Bradford goal was rarely threatened and the away side continued
to look the more likely to score. On the hour mark Garside found herself one on one with the keeper but her shot was saved
outside the area. The referee had no choice under the rules of the game and sent the keeper off. Murrell, who was having an
excellent game, took the free kick and brilliantly curved it into the top left hand corner of the net..
A brave
10 woman Lepton kept battling away but City were now in control of the game and should have added to their score. The three
subs, Erin Rosenberg, Jayne Barber and Emmie Kinnear all made appearances and showed the depth of the City squad all making
good contributions. The final whistle went to be greeted by a huge roar from the City contingent and some emotional scenes
of celebration. The title won with their 100% record still intact. It has been a squad effort and credit goes to the whole
team not only the 14 that played today. One of those players was Olivia Duxbury who had a suspected burst appendix. Reports
are that thankfully it was not quite as bad as that but she was very poorly with a bad viral infection. We all wish her a
speedy recovery. Also unavailable was Lou Lindley who injured herself in training and watched the match on crutches. Hope
you are soon back with us Lou.
City’s
attentions now turn to the Cup where they meet an ever improving Bradford Park
Avenue in the semi final’s on Sunday at Rawdon Meadows.
2nd March 2008
Bradford City 'A' Team 0-3 White Rose (L)
No report
this week.
24th February
2008
Bradford City 'A' Team 5-0 Ponefract SSC (C)
Melanie Garside (9,16, 83)
Neely Murrell
(53)
Kelly Brown
(76)
Second division Pontefract visited Bradford City WFC A Team in the quarter finals of the WRGFL Open Age Cup and despite
the score line gave an excellent performance and fully tested the home team. Pontefract could have gone ahead as early as
the 6th minute when a corner resulted in a goalmouth scramble but City defended bravely and managed to get the
ball away. City had a corner themselves in the 9th minute and it was nicely delivered by Nicky Davies and met by
a header from Mel Garside. The keeper had looked as if she saved it but despite her efforts it crossed the line and City led
1-0.
The game continued to be end to end but it was City who increased their lead in the 16th minute with a quality
left strike from Garside. Despite the 2-0 score line Pontefract were having as much, if not more, of the game as City and
in the 35th minute were unlucky not to score when in another goalmouth scramble they hit the bar.
The second half began with no personnel changes for City but the first half switch of Erin Rosenberg to playing in
front of the defence was beginning to bear fruit and they looked more comfortable. A mistake in the Pontefract defence gave
an opportunity to Neely Murrell which converted with an accomplished finish to make it 3-0. Hannah Wardman, who after an incident
in the first half is considering a career in wrestling, came off after an injury and was replaced by Emmie Kinnear.
Jessica Gibbons who had another strong game at full back gave way to Kelly Brown who slotted into midfield as City
went to three at the back. Pontefract kept playing well but it was an uphill struggle for them at 3-0. Danielle Domanski came
on as left back as City made their final change and reverted to a back four. Kelly Brown in only her second game for City
scored her second goal when she beat the offside trap and scored with confidence. In the 83rd minute City made
it 5-0 when Garside completed her hat trick after a great pass from Murrell was converted with a calm finish as Garside took
the ball round the keeper and slotted it into the net.
The game ended 5-0 to City but Pontefract can be proud of their performance which was not only brave but showed plenty
of skill. It was a game where City had to dig deep and the defence worked very hard, among them Laura Gadd who had a very
good game. Kim Kaye kept a clean sheet in her final performance for the A Team as she moves to pastures new. We wish her all
the best for the future.
10th February
2008
Kirklees Ladies FC 2-3 Bradford City 'A' Team (L)
Dawn ‘Barbie’ McMahon (26) Kelly Brown (15)
Emma
Fawcett (88) Claire Popplewell (22)
Melanie Garside (85)
On a beautiful spring like day City travelled to Kirklees hoping to maintain
their impressive run and strong push for the Premiership title. As the players gathered it became apparent that the kit plus
Nicky Davies hadn’t arrived and soon the ever reliable Claire Popplewell was on the phone. Feeling like we were
in an episode of Last of the Summer wine it transpired that Nicky had brought ‘tea making facilities’
but had no milk and was scouring West Yorkshire for a drop of the white stuff. I had
visions of a lone figure on a motor bike armed only with a large bucket scooting up the hills of Yorkshire in the search for cattle. Five minutes
later the kit arrived and we relaxed a little.
With call ups to the first team for Jess Pearson and Erin Rosenberg, several
absences through injuries etc. and three of our players still kangaroo racing down under, the starting line up had five different
players from last week’s starting line-up. We were pleased to welcome Jess Gibbons from the first team, Kim Kaye, Melanie
Cropp, Neely Murrell and debutant Kelly Brown to the starting eleven. On the bench alongside Jayne Barber and Sarah Welsh
it was good to see ex City player Melanie Garside back in the fold.
The game started brightly with both teams contributing to the action and City began to settle after about the ten minute
mark and began to get a grip on the game. In the 15th minute a well
placed free kick from Nicky Davies was cleverly steered into the net by Kelly Brown. It was a great way to start her A team
career and followed the promising start she had made to the game.
Kirklees responded almost immediately and had a good chance for an immediate reply but failed to take their chance.
Jess Gibbons playing at right back was keen to go forward at every opportunity and in the 18th minute a powerful
run ended with a good pass to Pops who narrowly fired over the bar. City began to get on top again and in the 20th
minute a Neely Murrell shot was blocked and the rebound was picked up by Emmie Kinnear. Her excellent
shot looked a certain goal until the Kirklees keeper made a great save.
Kim Kaye, who was playing on the right wing, was
linking well with Gibbons and covering when required. Kaye won the ball in defence and then made an excellent run to the other
end of the field where a good pass found Pops (who simply
refuses to be left off the score sheet) and the ball found the back of the net with an excellent shot. No doubt Steve thought
it was too near the keeper but Aidan didn’t care. As long as it goes in it’s good enough for him!
That made it 2-0 to City but the home team were detemined not to let Bradford
have it all their own way and had a good spell of pressure which resulted in a corner. It was excellently delivered from the
left and was met confidently by Dawn ‘Barbie’ McMahon
to narrow the score to 2-1. The goal seemed to knock City out of their stride and it was a very even contest until halftime,
but with no further goals it remained 2-1 to City.
There were no changes made at halftime and the game remained quite even but with City looking the more
likely to score. In the 58th minute a scramble in the City area resulted in keeper Stephanie Barraclough lying
on the edge of the six yard box following a kick to the head. After a couple of minutes treatment from
Steve she seemed bright enough. She answered a couple of the usual questions (how many fingers etc) and when asked who was
the best team in the world she answered Bradford City WFC A Team. Even Burnley fan Aidan
couldn’t argue with that. However with in a minute she suffered some more reaction to the blow and
it was clear that she was not right. Luckily for City Kim Kaye is an experienced keeper and she went in nets with Jayne Barber
replacing Kaye on the right.
Five
minutes later in the 65th minute City made another change with Melanie Garside replacing the tiring Brown. It was
Kelly’s first game for 3 months but she had to be pleased with her performance which showed plenty of promise.
City were creating the better of the chances with Kinnear playing behind the front two of Murrell and Garside, and
ably supported by the midfield Bradford created some good chances. However with the closeness of the game they showed signs
of nerves at times and they looked to have sealed the game when a mistake in the Kirklees defence was seized on by Garside
to fire home into the top left corner and make it 3-1 to City.
A brave Kirklees were having none of it and pushed forward looking to get back in the game. With only two minutes left
a clearance in the City defence hit another defender and Emma Fawcett made
the most of the opportunity to make it 3-2 . It was a nervous end to thee game but Ci |