BRADFORD City Women survived a difficult first half to record a fine 2-0 win over Preston North End at Horsfall in the Women's FA Cup on Sunday.
And leading from the front was player-manager Charlotte Stuart, who scored both of her side's goals to secure the Bantams' progression into the first round proper.
Preston started brightly, and City keeper Tiffany Whelan made a good early save from Liv Askam.
After 20 minutes, Preston's Maddison Hadley found herself one-on-one with Whelan, but the latter did enough to keep the former out.
City did have the ball in the back of the net just after the half-hour mark, netting at the second attempt after a superb initial save from Justine Elliott.
But the referee ruled that the ball had been kicked out of Elliott's hands and ruled the goal out.
Whelan then made a brilliant save to deny Hadley just before the break, as the first half ended goalless.
It did not take long for City to open the scoring after the interval, as Preston's Ella Radcliffe was deemed to have committed a foul following a 50-50 challenge in her own box.
Stuart was as reliable as ever from 12 yards, beating Elliott from the spot to give the hosts the lead.
Hadley nearly equalised when she caught Whelan off her goalline, but the Preston player's lobbed attempt dropped inches wide of the post.
And the Bantams took advantage of that let-off with 12 minutes to go, as the visitors failed to clear a free-kick, and Stuart slammed the loose ball into the net to secure the win for her side.
The first-round draw was made yesterday, and City have been handed an away tie at divisional rivals Middlesbrough, who beat them 2-1 on the opening day of the FA Women's National League Division One North season.
Those first-round games will be played on Sunday, November 13, so the Bantams will have to forget about the competition now, and instead focus on this weekend's FAWNL Plate first round game at home to Hull City, who they lost 6-2 to in the league earlier this month.
Brighouse Town Women are in FA Cup action on November 13 too, as they face a mouthwatering tie at West Yorkshire rivals Leeds United in the first round.
That will be their first game in the competition, and they were in FAWNL Northern Premier Division action at Nottingham Forest on Sunday.
Visitors Brig took the lead early on through Imogen Porteous-Williams, but Niamh Reynolds equalised after half-an-hour.
Forest took the lead through Charlotte Steggles on 62 minutes, before Hayley James added a late third to seal a 3-1 win for the hosts.
Brig are now just a point above the relegation zone, but they face a break from league action this Sunday, as they visit Wolverhampton Wanderers in the FAWNL Cup first round.
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