Bradford City Women were narrowly beaten 1-0 at home to Liverpool Feds in new manager Chris Hames’ first game in charge.
Hames - who was appointed last month - was in the dugout for is side’s designated Stonewall Rainbow Laces fixture - promoting equality in sport for the LGBTQ+ community.
From first minute, Hames’ Bantams looked well-organised. The pressing in midfield was higher up the pitch and City had the first couple of chances.
First, Masie Norde’s fine 20-yard strike was well-saved by the Feds goalkeeper before Charlotte Stuart stormed her way through a crowded Feds defence, again to be denied by the keeper.
Throughout the first half, there were half-chances for both sides but the only goal was for Feds - on 40 minutes.
A cross from the left was scrambled in from close range at the back post. City goalkeeper Aimee Routledge got fingertips to the shot, but it trickled into the net.
The second half proved to take a much similar pattern to the first, with chances at both ends.
The closest City came was through a strike from Falone Sumaili which rolled agonisingly past the wrong side of the post, with the Liverpool stopper stranded.
City did tire towards the end of the encounter and their visitors pressed for a second, but there was no way past Routledge as she pulled off a couple of smart saves.
The Bantams showed clear improvements under Hames though, despite pushing for a late equaliser, left with nothing.