Liverpool Feds 3-0 Bradford City

By Chris Routledge

After a great showing from City last week they were on their travels again, this time

to Liverpool Feds, a team who were sitting fourth in the table but had only managed

to beat the Bantams by a single goal on two previous occasions this season.

Feds started the game with the strong wind at their backs and utilized this, playing

the ball around in their own half well and releasing the long ball into deep into the

City half. City defended this well but on 15 minutes a Feds free-kick was lofted

hopefully into the City box and the referee awarded a penalty due to a high foot. The

penalty was scored giving Feds a one goal lead, there were very few chances for

either side in a scrappy first half and even though Feds had the majority of

possession and a second penalty decision that should have been awarded waved

away City defended well.

Half time - Liverpool Feds 1-0 Bradford City

City came out second half with the wind behind them and went on the offensive

straight away, eventual player of the match Charlotte Gill came on for her debut and

was really impressive on the ball, winning free kicks in dangerous areas as the Feds

defence had no other way to stop her. The game got very competitive in the second

half as captain Katy Woodcock was shown a yellow card for a heavy challenge and

the referee had words with several Feds players about dangerous tackles. This

suited Feds and they soaked up the pressure, breaking up the game whilst City were

on top, however they were clinical on the break and scored a further two goals

against the run of play, the first a well taken strike from 20 yards and the second an

unfortunate own goal that deflected off a couple of City defenders.

Full-time - Liverpool Feds 3-0 Bradford City

Despite City misfiring in front of goal this week, they did have a number of chances

but in the end were well beaten by a clinical Feds team.

Manager Chris Hames was understandably disappointed with the result, but is ready

to focus on the next challenge. He said “I didn’t think we were great today, and to

come here and compete with a team like Feds you have to have a good day.

“They asked a lot of questions, and we didn’t always have the answers. But we see

this as another game that we can learn from, and another chance to develop the

team.

“We have another tough game coming up next week (away to Barnsley), and need to

have another good week to prepare ourselves for another opportunity of three

points”.

City line-up: Routledge, Sales, Sandford, Shepherd (Willoughby, 67), Woodcock (c),

Prothero (Hawkins, 65), Norde, White (Gill, 45), Stuart, Stube, Sumaili