A 14 strong Batley team met in Bradford following the christmas break.
Batley always have great games against Bradford and were looking forward to taking them on again this year.
Bradford started strong, making attacks against a Batley side that felt rusty after all the christmas pudding!
Sophie Pearce and the defence did a good job of breaking down the Bradford attacks and found themselves facing a couple of penalty corners in the opening minutes of the game. Helen Langwick was challenged a couple of times but wasn’t phased and kept the ball out the Batley goal.
As Batley started to get in the swing of things they began to dominate the play, Sarah Fretwell and the midfield picking the ball up and passing it around the Bradford players. Marking out some of the dangerous opponents to limit Bradford’s opportunities to attack.
Kim Sharples looked dangerous for Batley pushing the ball forward and getting in some great positions. It wasn’t long before a cross from Rach Stewart was neatly fired home by Kim Sharples and Batley took the lead.
This goal was quickly followed by another, this time from a penalty corner. A textbook cross in from Sarah Fretwell was slotted in by Kim Sharples again.
Kim got her hattrick just before half time as she battled the ball through the Bradford circle and lifted it into the top corner a fantastic effort.
Batley knew that Bradford would regroup at half time and were ready for them. The initial attack from Bradford was closed down quickly and Batley didn’t give any time on the ball. Gemma Elsworth and Jo Forbes had lots of time on the left and were picking the ball up and driving it up the field for attacking opportunities.
Ashleigh Hallis was waiting in front of goal to direct Gail Culshaw’s cross in to make it 4-0 to Batley. Gail was next to score, working hard on the right with Vicky Almond, Gail was in the right place to put away Rach’s cross into the circle.
An aerial ball by Kim Sharples was driven into the net by Jo Forbes, who is getting form for scoring in the air the scoreline sat at 6-0 with 10 minutes to go.
Bradford got in an attack in the last few minutes and a big hitter found herself with space at the top of the Batley circle, there was no stopping her shot and Bradford clawed one back, making it 6-1.
Batley weren’t taking that lying down though and quickly responded with Rach taking the ball single handedly through the Bradford defence and finding the back of the net with her goal.
Finally, to round off the game, Sarah Fretwells cross was fired in Kim, a shot that deflected off the keepers glove and found its place in the top corner, another cracking strike from Kim.
The game ended 8-1 to Batley and, unsurprisingly, player of the match went to Kim Sharples.
Next week Batley meet Horsforth away, after defeat at home, Batley will be hoping to get some points from this game.