Our Women were in red hot form in West Yorkshire this afternoon, blasting aside the Bantams to move just five points off the top of the league table!
Goals from Jodie Gregory, Nic Shaw and a Maddie Foye brace ensured Barnsley continued their great form as this latest victory moved the Reds up to 4th in the North East Regional Women's Football League.
Played at Horsfall Community Stadium, the home of Bradford Park Avenue, the Reds had to be solid in the opening stages as the hosts - on a good run of form themselves, and just behind Barnsley in the standings - began on the front foot.
However, the Reds went ahead on 25 minutes as Gregory burst through the centre before firing low and hard into the corner to open the scoring.
Just five minutes later the lead was doubled. Some good pressing allowed Foye to nip in and round the Bantams' 'keeper and slot into an empty net.
Reds goalkeeper Ashleigh Ridsdel-Harrison showed her composure having had little to do when just prior to the break she pulled off a couple of comfortable saves and ensured we went into the break two goals to the good.
HALF TIME: Bradford City 0-2 Barnsley
Ridsdel-Harrison was at her very best early in the second half as she flung herself across goal to divert an effort away from her top corner, before Foye increased the Reds' lead to further punish our hosts.
And with 10 minutes to play, substitute Nic Shaw raced down the right before unleashing a strike that found the top corner, making it 4-0.
Credit to the Bantams who kept on searching for something and that tenacity was rewarded in the dying embers of the contest as Mia Jacobs stuck home a half-chance, low and across the goalkeeper from the right of the box.
The Reds are next in action next weekend, away at Harrogate!
FULL TIME: Bradford City 1-4 Barnsley
Ridsdel-Harrison, Wilson-Roberts, Turton-Burrell, Wilson, Rigby, Barraclough, Evans, Fevers, Chincharo, Gregory, Foye.
Subs: Horsley, Shaw, Holland, Dawson, Kelly.
