BRADFORD City’s Women have reached the FA Cup first round, keeping their composure to win 2-1 at Chesterfield Ladies on Sunday.

The Bantams were threatening to breeze through their third qualifying round clash when they took a 2-0 lead into the break.

But the Spireites hit back, playing on City’s nerves during the second half and halving the deficit late on.

It was the visitors who went through though, setting up an away tie at Preston in the first round on Sunday, November 3.

North End play their football a tier below City, so the Bantams should be slight favourites to win that game.

Chesterfield are at the same level as City, and currently sit top of the East Midlands Women’s Regional Football League Premier Division table, so Sunday looked to be a tough ask for the Bantams.

But the visitors made a superb start, with Bermudan international Aaliyah Nolan putting them 1-0 up after only five minutes.

Chesterfield hit back well, coming closest when Imogen Fowler’s free kick was parried away by Tiffany Whelan.

City’s Hannah Markey put a free kick of her own just over the bar soon after, but she made up for that near miss by doubling the lead for the Bantams on the half-hour mark.

Hannah Markey salutes to the camera after scoring City's second goal on Sunday.Hannah Markey salutes to the camera after scoring City's second goal on Sunday. (Image: Max Lomas.)

The hosts were rocked by that, and almost conceded a third goal immediately, only to be bailed out by their goalkeeper Nic Stokes.

Chesterfield came agonisingly close when Fowler sent a header just wide, but the final five minutes of the half left City wondering how they had not put the game out of sight.

Nolan somehow missed an open goal after taking the ball round the keeper, Stokes was forced into two brilliant saves, and Markey sent a great chance sailing over the bar.

Chesterfield tried hard to make the most of that reprieve at the start of the second half, Georgina Williams striking an effort wide from the edge of the box after being set up by Fowler.

Williams came even closer on 58 minutes when she stormed through on goal before being kept out by a fine save from Whelan.

Chesterfield were controversially denied a penalty when Fowler took a boot to the head in trying to nod home Millie Standen’s cross.

The hosts kept going, but Eleanor Abercrombie crashed a wild half-volley over the bar for them.

Stokes then claimed the ball in a one-on-one to keep her side in the game and with eight minutes to go, Chesterfield halved the deficit.

Abercrombie smashed an effort past Whelan to set up a frantic finale, with the home side dominating the closing stages as they hunted an equaliser.

But the closest they came was when Fowler sent an injury-time bicycle kick off target, as City advanced into the next round.