OUR local women’s football teams had another fortnight of friendlies before their season proper starts on Sunday.

Wyke Wanderers, who are looking for a dedicated goalkeeper to join their squad, concluded a strong pre-season with a clean sheet in a 1–0 win against League rivals Silsden. Lois Cooper was again on target, with Kerry Brannan named Player-of-the-match.

This Sunday, Wyke are in the First Round Qualifying of the FA Cup, when they play fellow County Premier participants Morley Town at Wilson Road.

Silsden, who have recently signed Anaayah Charles, Catriona Hellewell, Corina Riley and Katherine Sharp, entertain Northwest Regional League side Accrington Stanley at Keighley Road. Please note that there will be a small cash admission fee for this FA Cup fixture.

Skipton Town are the only local team on the road, and they are away to another Northwest Regional League side, Runcorn Linnets, at their Stockham Lane ground.

In other FA Cup matches, Forge Way play Cleethorpes Town at Windmill Lane, and Farsley Celtic are playing Sheffield United Community at the rearranged venue of Amaranth FC (Manston Lane).

In other pre-season friendlies, Ilkley Town’s Firsts went behind early-on to Harrogate Town, before pacey forward Izzy Armstrong scored an equaliser just before half time. But the Sulphurettes’ right-back hit a thunderbolt to win 2–1 with two minutes to go!

An Ilkley combined XI came from behind to beat Horsforth St Margaret’s Reserves 4–2, with goals from Scarlett Guise, Eva Curran and a brace from Mary Armstrong — her first-ever senior goals.

Bradford City’s U19s are looking forward to their new season in the Community and Education Alliance after they ended last season as North Central Division champions.

They kicked-off pre-season with a brilliant performance to record an 11–1 win away to Rotherham United, but an entertaining game at home saw a 5–2 loss to Wath Academy. It was a goal-less first half at home to Manchester United, despite controlling possession. However the second half saw the second half saw six fantastic goals from Summer Hughes, Tiah Smith, Sanaa Bashir, Emily Gill and an Aimée Myers brace.

Tyersal put in a good team effort against Queensbury Celtic. Goals from Sophie Woodrup and Ella Priestley put them 2–0 in front, with good work from Hayley Robinson and Naomi Reid. Queensbury did pull one back, but new signing Connie Lea secured the Robins’ 3–1 win.

Looking forward to this Sunday’s West Riding County League fixtures, Tyersal are away to Halifax Friendly in Division Four. Their hosts, who have recently signed Carly Doyle and Sandra Bates from Thackley, play at Greetland FC (Rochdale Road).

Bradford City u23s have a Division One game against Republica Internationale at their new home of Carlton-Bolling (Undercliffe Lane).

Burley Trojans open their new Division Two season with a home game against Rangers Athletic.

Eccleshill United, who are at home to Lower Hopton Development, have had to re-build after only four players remained from last season’s squad. New players include Naomi Bernard, Keegan Lambert, Grace Lund, Lainie Maddocks and Nikki Relton. They ended their pre-season with a 6–1 win against Halifax Friendly.

Field Ladies, who host Leeds City at Chelsea Road, have a new captain.

Following the departure of Rebecca ‘Becky’ Teale from the squad, Georgina ‘G’ Simpson moves up to lead the team, with defender Julia ‘Jules’ Jefferis filling the vice-captain role.

Bradford side Route One Rovers are away at Brighouse Sports’ Russell Way ground.

Sports had a mid-week friendly at Huddersfield Amateur, where a fairly-even first half saw Amateur taking a 2–0 advantage into the break. After Kirst McCluskey pulled one back, it looked like Sports had got back in the game, but Amateur responded immediately, going on to win 4–1.

Brighouse Sports are looking to the future with the formation of a new under-15s team, and are looking to recruit. Please contact through their social media accounts if interested.

Wyke Wanderers’ under-15s are also looking to add additional players to their West Riding Girls’ Division 3 team, with training on Monday evenings at Wyke Sports Village. For further information, contact Tara on 07772 637944.

Halifax FC, who have had several squad changes, including new signing Maria McKenna, have already started their FA National League games. The Eagles’ first visitors to their new home of Horsfall Stadium were Rugby Borough, who went away with a convincing 10–0 win.

There was a much better effort at West Bromwich Albion in a goal-less first half, but three late goals led to the Baggettes’ 4–0 win.

Their latest game saw Halifax hosting Leeds United in a League Cup Determining Round tie. It was goal-less at the break, but late goals from Sarah Danby and ex-Eagle Drew Greene saw the Whites progress at the expense of their higher-tier opposition, who will continue in the League Plate competition.

Earlier, Leeds United had an opening day derby against Huddersfield Town at Cedar Ridge (Garforth), with new signings Shauna Legge, Drew Greene, Ellie White and Amy Woodruff in the line-up.

Huddersfield Town have been very busy in the transfer market, as they endeavour to return to the Northern Premier Division after their recent relegation.

On the stroke of half time, Beth Ibbotson headed home a Kate Mallin corner to put Town in the driving seat. It was one-way traffic in the second half as United pushed for a much-deserved leveller, before Molly Firth scored late-on for Huddersfield to clinch a 2-0 win.

Town’s longest-serving player, Kate Mallin, and their youngest recruit, Molly Firth, were both involved in the goals. Kate, who joined Town at the age of 10, made her first-team début at the age of 15, netting her first goal two months later. The midfielder has made over 550 appearances for Town, scoring over 200 goals along the way. Molly, who was with Sheffield United’s u21s last season, started off at Battyeford but later played for Huddersfield Town Juniors, and did make an appearance with the first team back in 2016 — as a mascot!

Last Sunday, Huddersfield hosted Stockport County at Storthes Hall Lane, where two evenly-matched teams ensured it was goal-less at the break. However the Terriers’ new signing Charlotte Stuart shot from the edge of the box to score the only goal of the game.

Leeds United went behind against the run of play at recently-relegated AFC Fylde. However, an inspired second-half display saw the Whites secure a superb 3-1 come-back victory in testing conditions at Kellamergh Park, thanks to goals from Sian Gibril-Keating, Kath Smith and Sarah Danby.