Substitute Sarah Danby came to 10-man Bradford City Women’s rescue on Sunday afternoon as they battled to a late victory at Nuneaton Town.
Danby came off the bench with 20 minutes to go, replacing opening scorer Ellie Olds who had put Bradford ahead with just under half an hour played.
However, Charlotte Stuart, who created that goal, was sent off just past the hour for committing a foul whilst the last man, which gave Nuneaton the initiative to push for an equaliser.
They got exactly that from the resulting free-kick, smashing the dead ball into the roof of the net to set the game up for the taking with less than half an hour to go.
However, City kept fighting and showed real togetherness to remain on top before Danby clinched the three points with six minutes to play – her 25 yard screamer a worthy winning goal.
With Nuneaton situated in the bottom three and boasting just two wins all season, City assumed the role of favourites for this game and were comfortable in it from the off.
Their confidence showed early on as Hannah Campbell showed real determination on a promising run forward, only to lack the finish to match.
Nuneaton did pose a threat, with some dangerous goal-scorers in their team despite their struggles, and had a chance just before, but they failed to test visiting goalkeeper Chloe Precious.
Once the game settled down it favoured the visitors, who were dominating and able to open the scoring on 28 minutes through Olds. The midfielder has impressed thoroughly since moving up from the reserves in recent weeks, and she continued this form with a lovely lob after a great ball forward from Stuart.
City could have and probably should have extended this lead before the break too, but they were thwarted by brave defending on Nuneaton’s behalf.
Five minutes after Olds’ effort, Shauna Legge provided Campbell with a chance to double the advantage, but the ‘keeper made a terrific save before the follow-up was blocked by a defender – who clattered into her own stopper in the process.
Just before the interval Chantelle O’Hara tried her luck from range too, but the effort cleared the bar as City had to settle for just the one at half time.
The Bantams clearly felt they should have bagged more goals in the opening half as they started the second with real intent. With less than five minutes played, Campbell raced through one-on-one with the ‘keeper, but it was the latter who came out on top with a fantastic save.
City’s failure to capitalise on these openings would prove costly on 61 minutes, with Stuart sold short with a bad pass that allowed Nuneaton through. Given no other option, the defender was forced to hack her opponent down and take one for the team - seeing red.
The resulting free-kick, ironically, was then executed with damning affect as it was hammered into the roof of the net, levelling the scores.
Despite having a point to hang on to with 10 men, Bradford were never going to sit back as Rosie McDonnell darted down the wing from the restart and picked out Campbell with her cross, but the forward headed wide.
The man advantage Nuneaton had continued to make little difference as the game entered its closing stages, with City continuing to dominate proceedings as they pursued their third win in four games.
Something that did make a difference, however, was a substitution 20 minutes from time that saw Danby enter the fray as Olds earned a deserved rest. Before her wonder-strike though, Campbell had another opportunity which stressed that it was going to take something special to beat Nuneaton’s ‘keeper for a second time, as she made another super save.
That moment of brilliance came with 84 minutes played, with Danby finding the roof of the net from 25 yards and, with it, all three points.
The Bantams remain firmly in mid-table with the win, but have at least three games in hand on all those above them bar Sporting Club Albion - with five games in hand over leaders Preston North End and third-placed Derby County.
Now, it's about turning those fixtures into points though, starting with another trip to the Midlands this coming weekend in the form of an away day at Loughborough Foxes.