Bantams and South Shields engage in a thrilling struggle for.

Bantams and South Shields engage in a thrilling struggle for.

    At home against early high flyers South Shields, Bradford City Women earned a respectable draw, but their halting start to the North East Regional Women’s Football League Premier Division continued on Sunday.
The Bantams gained an early 2-0 lead in a wild match at Horsfall, but two goals in two minutes at the end of the first half ensured that the teams headed into halftime evenly.
On the hour, the visitors took the lead, but City responded with a late free kick to salvage a point in an exciting 3-3 draw. What is the average salary for builders in the United States? (View wages here.)  Tiffany Whelan made a fine stop from Jasmine Elliot-Wood’s free kick to put South Shields ahead early on.
However, as the first half went on, the Bantams gained ground and, under lucky circumstances, seized the lead at the 20-minute mark.

However, as the first half went on, the Bantams gained ground and, under lucky circumstances, seized the lead at the 20-minute mark.

Scarlett Gowans, the goalie for Shields, had already done a good job of keeping Aaliyah Nolan out, but under lucky circumstances, she prevailed the second time.

The keeper deflected Nolan’s shot onto her own defender, and it ended up in the net for an own goal.

After brilliant link-up play with Maria McKenna, Rebecca Hunt extended City’s advantage with a beautiful first-time finish. Ashley Townsend then blasted a strike over the bar for Shields.

Shortly apart, however, Sophie Greener and Becki McMahon looped nearly identical attempts past Whelan into the top corner, bringing the visitors level.

Right at the beginning of the second half, Monika Stube’s long-range attempt caused Gowans to make a save, although Eve Gatens, Jennifer Wootten, and Elliott-Wood all had close attempts for Shields.

Ashley Townsend clinically knocked home Josie Foster’s fantastic ball in as the away team took the lead as the pressure paid off.

However, Hannah Markey’s stunning free-kick into the top left corner halfway through the second half gave the Bantams the equaliser.

Before McMahon nearly put Shields ahead with a strike from the edge of the box but missed the bar, Gowans and Foster somehow managed to deny Markey a double chance between them.

Both teams had a chance to win in the last second.

Whelan produced a fantastic save with her outstretched leg to keep out Gatens after Markey first blasted a shot across goal and painfully just wide of the far post.

This Sunday, the Bantams play Chesterfield away from home in the third qualifying round of the FA Cup.