With several teams in SSE Women’s FA Cup and County Cup action, there were just three games across the two divisions.
All those games came in the Northern Division, but with 17 goals, there was no shortage of goal-mouth action.
NORTHERN DIVISION
Bradford City recorded a memorable 9-2 win over league leaders Middlesbrough as they moved up two places into seventh.
Laura Elford scored a remarkable double hat-trick, netting six times, including once from the penalty spot as Bradford dominated Middlesbrough
Arianne Parnham, Hannah Campbell and Ellie White were also on the scoresheet for the hosts as Middlesbrough succumbed to a heavy defeat.
Middlesbrough remain top of the division, but have allowed clubs below them to gain ground.
One club to do just that were Stoke City who enjoyed a 3-2 win over Huddersfield Town.
Stoke started the day in fourth place, but moved ahead of Leicester City who were playing in the FA Cup, closing the gap on Huddersfield to just three points in the process.
Goals from Faye McCoy and Kate Asher put the home side in a commanding position before half-time.
Lucy Sowerby reduced the deficit for Huddersfield with a curled finish three minutes after the break.
Hannah Keryakoplis then scored the pick of Stoke’s goals, lobbing Huddersfield goalkeeper Laura Carter from 25 yards to make it 3-1.
Huddersfield captain Kate Mallin pulled a goal back on 86 minutes to set up a nervy finish for the hosts, but they held on to move within six points of Middlesbrough at the top.
In the only other game of the day, Lauren Cresswell gave Derby County Ladies a 1-0 win over Fylde Ladies.
GAME OF THE WEEK
The clash between Stoke City and Huddersfield Town was a meeting of two teams gunning for promotion and it didn’t disappoint.
Stoke looked to have secured the result by half-time, but Huddersfield showed why they are fighting at the top by twice threatening to come back into the game.
By the end, Stoke were holding on and were relieved to come away with all three points.
MANAGER OF THE WEEK
Charlotte Stuart, who only stopped playing last month, has not been in the full-time managerial role for long.
But her Bradford side put in a scintillating display that saw them put nine goals past a side that had only lost twice in 13 league games before today.
Bradford were superb and Elford, with six goals, was particularly impressive.
GOAL OF THE WEEK
Hannah Keryakoplis’ lob against Huddersfield from outside the box was the pick of the goals this weekend and ultimately proved to be Stoke’s winner.
