IN a full League programme, there were three games in the West Riding County Premier Division.

Silsden were only able to name 11 players for their game with Thackley, who were forced to start with defender Luzia Negru in the net. Silsden took advantage of the Dennygirls’ disjointed defence to pull 2–0 ahead through Megan Gillibrand and Georgia Greenwood, but Thackley got back into the game with a Jess Dunlop strike and a Lois Cooper equaliser. However, Gillibrand scored a second to give Silsden a slender lead going into the break.

In the second half, Silsden pressed hard and created loads of chances, but Thackley’s defence held firm throughout. An Annie Nicol strike, curled into the far corner, brought parity, and Cooper slotted home her second for a well-deserved 4–3 win.

Thackley’s manager, Michelle Woollias, remarked: “our girls lived our values of hardworking, honest, relentless and passionate. A real gritty team performance to grind out the result, creating so many chances to extend the lead in the second half.”

Bradford (Park Avenue)’s Nat Bell was first to score at Leeds Medics and Dentists, but the League leaders put away an unstoppable strike and a penalty to lead 2–1 after a fairly-even first half. Bradford had a few chances as they fought to get back in the game, Bell coming close more than once, including hitting the bar. But Medics got another near the end for a 3–1 score.

Avenue joint manager Anthony Joyce had no complaints in regards to the final result: “We made it easy for the opposition to play through us, and didn’t have the same intensity and organisation as we have had in previous weeks.”

Skipton Town’s First Team came out on top against Sherburn White with a 4–1 win.

In County Third, Skipton’s Development side went into their game at Field AFC as leaders after they'd had a comprehensive 9–1 victory against Leeds Hyde Park Seconds.

Field started the better team, but Skipton Devs took the lead, with Elly Field stroking the ball home from an acute angle, and Skipton doubling their lead through Raegan Percival. Field Ladies refused to be put out, and their resilience paid off as Meg Sparkes spun and shot, placing the ball in the corner, then bringing down a 35-yard pass to drill the ball in the back of the net. Field Ladies’ ’keeper Emily McKinley made a number of fine saves to keep the score-line equal. In the final five minutes, Sparkes completed her hat-trick with an instinctive acrobatic finish.

Bradford United started off strongly against Kinsley, taking an early lead as Zahraa Khan smashed the ball in the back of the net. United dominated the first half, resulting in a 3-0 lead going into half time.

Kinsley got a goal back through Stacey Conway. However, Bradford scored three in quick succession, with Khan and Kiran Mehreen adding two more near the end for an 8–1 victory.

County Second leaders Bradford City u21 beat a positively-minded Rangers Athletic 3–0, thanks to a Summer Paley hat-trick.

Athletico’s dominant performance at home to Horsforth St Margaret’s saw a pair of braces from Sandhya Akhtar and Rimshah Amin, plus one from Isma Ahmed, for a 5–2 win.

Ilkley Town Firsts were not at their best as they took on Republica Internationale, who never stopped for the whole 90 minutes. However, the “BahtBonnets” worked hard and pushed themselves for a 4–0 result through Izzy Armstrong, Millie Dawson (2), and Eva Curran.

Meanwhile, in County Fourth, a bright start saw Ilkley’s Development side 2–0 up at Sherburn before the break, through Isabel Wilks and Abi Hewitt. A well-contested and even game saw no further goals in a historic first League win for the Devs.

Sunday’s re-arranged schedule sees Athletico at Boroughbridge, Avenue at Brighouse Sports, City’s U21s at Knaresborough and Thackley at Harrogate Railway. Amongst local matches, Burley Trojans host Horsforth St. Margaret’s at the rec, Eccleshill United entertain Goole, Field host Hopton, Queensbury welcome Leeds City to Deanstones Lane and Tyersal play Kinsley.

In the FA National League, Halifax FC ’keeper Becky Flaherty made a brilliant save, but the rebound put Stoke City ahead. Monique Watson created an excellent finish to make it 1–1, but the Potters’ second went in off the cross-bar. On 90’ Stoke caught Halifax on the break to make it 3–1, the Eagles' first loss of the season.

The mid-week match at leaders Burnley saw Halifax working hard, but an Amy Kelly double saw a 2–0 loss.

Leeds United were away at an unbeaten Hull City, where a continuous battle and hard-fought match resulted in a 4–3 loss for the Whites.

The mid-week game at home to FC United of Manchester saw captain Olivia Smart curling an unstoppable left-footed effort into the top corner before Jess Rousseau doubled the lead. But the visitors’ Keunna Dill did well to slot beyond Carrie Simpson to make it 2–1. Pizzarello made it 3–1, followed by a Kathryn Smith penalty to give Leeds a 4–1 victory.