Thackley and Eccleshill United hit double figures in wins

Salts’ first 45 minutes at home started a little shakily, with some tough battles all over the pitch, as women’s football returned to Salts Sports Ground after a 13-year gap. 

Despite some excellent saves from Hannah Park in goal, and a lot of resilience from defence, Batley used their fast pace to break through the hosts’ defence and score three in 40 minutes. 

Just before the break, a composed and unselfish assist from Aleah Wilkinson saw Emma Cranmer slot the ball into the net to get Salts off the mark and on the lookout for a comeback. 

Just after the break, skipper Emily Parry slotted home to make it 3-2. 

Both teams continued to push each other in a stellar display of football, with Batley scoring again to make it 4-2. 

Salts continued battling all over the pitch, being repaid when Aleah Wilkinson scored back-to-back goals mid-way through the half to make it all-square. 

After a hectic final 10 minutes, with countless near-misses and Salts piling on the pressure, the game finished as a well-earned 4-4 draw. 

April Gallagher’s relentless running over 90 minutes earned her Player-of-the-match.  

Eldwick Lionesses’ first-ever League match saw them away at Sherburn White Rose Development. 

The initial 20 minutes were physical, both teams playing well, and defending any possible shot at goal.

Sherburn then scored two quick-fire goals, as the first half finished with Eldwick trailing 2-0. 

On 80 minutes, Eldwick’s Nicole Hamilton scored after a fumble from Sherburn’s goalkeeper. 

Eldwick were back in the game and putting pressure on the defence and after Sherburn failed to clear the ball from their own box, they scored a late own-goal as the game ended 2–2.

Player-of-the-match was awarded to Fearne Midgley. 

In Division Four, Ilkley Town Development were hoping to build on their 6–0 home win against Kinsley when they travelled to Illingworth to play Crossley Belles Reds.   

Crossley went 2–0 up within 10 minutes, before Ilkley battled hard to make it all-square at 3–3 at half time.

But Crossley pushed on to win a thrilling match 6–3.   

In Division Three, Eccleshill United were at Crofton Sports.

Late goals from player-of-the-match Aleathia Smith, scoring on her début, and Falone Sumaili completed Eccleshill’s 12–1 win that sees them top the division on goal difference.   

In Division Two, Burley Trojans were at home to a good Leeds City side. 

Yet in wet conditions, Troggs recorded a  thoroughly-deserved 7–2 win with clinical finishing from Heather Fisher and Bethan Smith, who both scored hat-tricks.   

Field travelled to Horsforth St Margaret’s, with both teams aiming to build on the back of wins last weekend.

The home side came straight out of the blocks, dominating with their pace and strength.

Field provided some excellent defending and player-of-the-match Emily McKinley made some crucial one-on-one saves to keep her side in the game in a goal-less first half.

The second half saw Field creating chances of their own, but unfortunately they couldn’t convert.

With 20 minutes to go, Field’s resistance was finally broken by Horsforth, and the hosts won 3-0.

Route One Rovers hosted Boroughbridge at Bradford Academy, where the first half saw ’Bridge applying lots of pressure, yet the visitors trailed at the break though a Rimshah Amin goal.

In the second half, an Ikra Ali penalty doubled Route One’s lead, before Bridge responded with a superb comeback to take the points with a 3-2 win.

In Division One, newly-promoted Bradford City U23s met Leeds Hyde Park Firsts at Scott Hall Road in a strong early-season battle.

The Bantams started strongly, and within the first 10 minutes, captain Katie Breckin broke through the Hyde Park back line and scored with a superb strike into the cop corner.

Hyde Park then had a penalty saved, but Fran Hinchcliffe scored a late equaliser to salvage a 1-1 draw.

It is Thackley who top the early season standings in the second tier, after their crushing 15-0 win over Hepworth United at the weekend.

Sophie Moulden scored four goals for the Dennygirls, while Rachael White netted a hat-trick.

A rampant Thackley score one of their 15 goals against Hepworth. (Image: Alex Daniel.)

In the Premier Division, recently-promoted Ilkley Town opened the scoring against Silsden Juniors, when Izzy Armstrong’s looping shot fooled the opposition keeper.

They were pegged back immediately when Silsden caught Ilkley on the counter-attack, with a goal from Corina Riley. 

But their comeback did not last long as Ilkley dominated the remainder of the game to win 10-1. 

Wyke Wanderers went ahead early-on against another promoted side, Farsley Celtic, as Megan Dunlop looped her free-kick over the head of Farsley’s stopper Leigh Bamford. 

On the half-hour mark, Farsley equalised when new signing Millie Washington rounded goalkeeper Annie Roberts in a one-on-one and tucked it away calmly.   

Soon after the re-start, Wyke regained their lead through substitute Orla Durkin, with a close-range effort from a corner that bounced home off the underside of the crossbar. 

Farsley equalised through Evie Smith, then kicked on from there to record an impressive 6-2 win. 

Please note that there are a few changes to this Sunday’s fixtures, with the following teams at home: Bradford City’s U23s, Brighouse Sports, Brighouse Town, Burley Trojans,  Forge Way,  Queensbury Celtic, Route One, Salts,  Silsden,  Skipton and Tyersal.   

The WRCWFL have altered the format of their League Cup for this season. 

The Premier Division teams receive a bye to Round Two, with all other teams to play in Round One on October 6.

The West Riding Women’s County Cup sees local sides Halifax FC, Silsden,  Skipton and Wyke Wanderers receiving a bye to the second round, with other teams playing in the first round on January 19.   

In the FA Women’s National League, Halifax FC were early off-the-mark with a goal for Minnie Wilson after just one minute.

But opponents Liverpool Feds scored a goal either side of the break to win 2–1.  

Halifax were soon in action again, at home to Derby County, and while both sides had theire chances, it finished as a goalless draw at Horsfall, which at least allowed the West Yorkshire side to the chalk up their first point of the season.   

Halifax were due to have a League Plate Preliminary Round tie at Horsfall this Sunday.

Their opponents were scheduled to be Sheffield United Academy, one of ten Professional Game Academies who have controversially been allowed to take part in the Plate this season.

But Halifax have been handed a walkover win by the Blades, so will now progress into the next round, where they will host Notts County on Sunday, September 29.

In Division One, Huddersfield Town went 2-0 down, when Norton & Stockton Ancients’ Bianca Owens scored two second-half goals, before a late brace from substitute Scarlett McMahon stole a point for the Terriers at Storthes Hall Lane.  

Huddersfield then fell 1–0 down to Chorley in their next game after only one minute. They did turn the pressure up to get an equaliser, but there was no further score.  

In the League Cup, the Terriers came from behind to beat Doncaster Rovers’ Belles 4–1, and go through to a Preliminary Round tie away to York City, this Sunday at Tadcaster, with the first round due to be played on September 29.

Leeds United were on course to win at Stockport County after turning-round an early one-goal deficit, before a goal deep into injury time frustratingly salvaged a late point for the hosts. 

Then, after falling behind to Middlesbrough early on a few days later, Amy Woodruff’s well-taken brace had put the Whites a goal to the good at the break.

But two second-half strikes saw Boro take the points and go top of the table. 

Leeds’ Reserves and Huddersfield Town Development have made good starts to their season, both going through in the Reserve Cup, and wins in their first league games.