Last weekend, our local West Riding County Women’s Football League teams played in challenging conditions, in a programme that saw some high-scoring games and some surprise results.

In the Premier Division, Ilkley Town were away to a determined, physical Morley Town.

After going a goal down, Ilkley dug deep and raised their game to finish the half with a 2–1 advantage, with goals from Millie Dawson and Player-of-the-match Eva Curran. The ‘Baht-Bonnets’ bossed the second half, with further goals from Izzy Armstrong and Emma Reader-Harris, to win 4–1 and top the League on goal-difference.

Wyke Wanderers suffered a narrow defeat at Leeds Medics & Dentists.

They were 3–1 down at half time, with Millie West scoring for the visitors. Despite good play from Jade Nelson and a another goal from Lois Cooper, it was a 3–2 defeat.

Silsden Juniors had struggled for numbers prior to the previous week’s league defeat at Ilkley but were back to full strength for their home game with Harrogate Railway.

The ‘Dragons’ dominated the first half, controlling the midfield and causing problems out-wide, and were soon rewarded with a good goal from Georgia Greenwood. Despite this, Elisa Hodson chipped the keeper with a neat finish to equalise before the break. Rail were the better side in the second half, creating several chances, as Hannah Freibach, Krista Shuttleworth and Caitlyn Atkin all hit the woodwork, but couldn’t beat Sils’ ’keeper, as the points were shared.

Skipton Town, who had bounced back from their recent FA Cup defeat with a 4–2 win away to Forge Way, were at home to recently-promoted Farsley Celtic.

Skipton took a half-time lead, with 16-year-old Ruby Reynolds scoring her first goal for the club. A hard-fought game saw Skipton hang on for a 1–0 win, with Player-of-the-match Rebecca Seward keeping an impressive clean sheet.

Thackley travelled to North Leeds for their Division One game against Republica Internationale.

Thackley struggled to get past Republica’s back line, before Rachael White went through on goal to calmly slot past the ’keeper, then Beth Davies lobbed the ’keeper to make it 2–0 at half time. White completed a 3–0 score-line with a slick finish.

In Division Two, Burley Trojans met Horsforth St Margaret’s, as two evenly-matched teams went toe-to-toe, with great work-rate throughout.

Early-on, a key injury to Troggs’ skipper Nic Frankland could have easily upset their stride, but the hosts regrouped and kept going until the end. Horsforth were good in possession, however the visitors were limited to few chances but their counter-attacks were Troggs’ undoing as they went 2–0 down. Good work down the right from Charlotte Keane led to a goal from Becky Clark and then Kat Lee finished well with a right-foot volley to level things up. Both sides had chances to win it late-on with a number of good saves made by both goalkeepers. Unfortunately, Horsforth scored an 88th-minute winner that led to a tough-to-take 3–2 defeat.

Route One Rovers bounced back from last week’s defeat with a win against Skipton Town Development.

The 20–0 score-line featured a goal from Lucia Abioye on her début, and eight from Player-of-the-match Rimshah Amin, with Mehjabeen Shabir keeping a clean sheet on her début.

Queensbury Celtic were at home to Wortley for their Division Three game.

Queensbury’s line-up included returning players Emily Uttley, Hollie Whitaker and Katie Whyatt, with Aneeka Hussain on the bench. A real battle of a game saw Queensbury ahead through captain and Player-of-the-match Hannah Aldersley, but the scores were level at half time. In the second half, Wortley turned it on to secure the points with a 4–1 win.

Tyersal welcomed Crossley Belles Reds for a Division Four match.

Tyersal’s high back line, plus the smaller pitch at a wet and windy Arkwright Street, made it initially hard for the visitors. But, they soon adapted, and on 10’, Belles’ skipper Amy Sim scored from close-range to open the scoring, with Crossley taking a 7–0 lead into the interval.

Molly O’Neill, who had provided three assists in the first half, opened the scoring in the second half with a good effort from 20 yards. Crossley continued to score, culminating in a 12–0 defeat for Tyersal. There was good play from Tyersal’s Jess’ Matthews and also Crossley’s Brooke Scully, who led a fault-less defence.

Eldwick Lionesses were at Dewsbury Rangers for a Division 5A match.

Kate Ambrick opened the scoring with two well-taken goals. Dewsbury fought back hard and, on the half-hour mark, midfielder Em Wood pulled one back, before Jessica Murphy scored either side of the break to put Eldwick 4–1 in front. The Eldwick defence closed down any attempts from Dewsbury until the hour mark, when Alex Briggs broke through the defensive line to score for Dewsbury, before Kate Ambrick completed her hat-trick to make it 5-2 to Eldwick. Dewsbury closed ranks and defended well, but struggled to have chances on goal. Dewsbury midfielder Emma Smith blasted the ball from outside the box with ten minutes remaining, with the final score 5–3 to Eldwick.

This Sunday’s League fixtures include: Eldwick v Pontefract Collieries Reserves, Field v Skipton Town Development, Skipton Firsts v Morley and Thackley v Golcar United. Please note that Halifax’ National League game against Stourbridge will have a 3 p.m. kick-off, and Wednesday evening’s “home” game against Hull City will take place at Post Office Road, Featherstone.

Looking ahead to next month, the new-format League Cup sees teams outside the Premier Division taking part in the 1st Round, including Ackworth v Eccleshill, Bradford City u23 v Queensbury, Brighouse Sports v Thackley, Eldwick v Hyde Park, Field v Knaresborough, Lower Hopton Development v Burley, Route One v Kinsley, Salts v Boroughbridge and Tyersal v Batley, with ties due to be played 6th October.

The West Riding FA are also changing the format of their County Cup competition, with most sides below WRCWFL Division One, plus some Beginners’ League teams, transferring to the new Women’s Trophy, taking place on the traditional third Sunday of the month.

Bradford City U19s had a very good start to their new season in the Community & Education Alliance, with a 7–0 win away to Everton ‘B’. They followed this up with an excellent performance in a 4–1 win at home to Grimsby Town, which featured a hat-trick from Player-of-the-match Summer Hughes.

Last Saturday saw the opening games in the West Riding Girls’ League, and it was a good morning for Wyke Wanderers u15s and new side Brighouse Sports u15s, who both started with a win.