Bradford City Women's were beaten for the first time this season, losing out narrowly, 1-0, to Chester le Street Town.
Manager Steve Winterburn shuffled his formation for this game and pushed captain Zoe Roberts forward into a holding midfield role.
It was Roberts who had City’s first attacking effort of the game, curling a low long-range free kick wide of the far post.
After half an hour striker Falone Sumaili picked up a through ball but prodded her shot from the edge of the box just wide.
Chester le Street went closest just before the break as a looping header from the edge of the box looped over ‘keeper Aimee Routledge only to bounce back off the top of the bar.
The visitors grabbed what proved to be the winner after on 76 minutes. The Bantams failed to clear their lines down the right, and a low cross found Jessica Ellison unmarked at the far post. The striker tucked the ball home past the helpless Routledge.
City looked for a way back and spent most of the last 10 minutes camped in the Chester le Street half, were left frustrated by defensive heroics as the visitors held out for all three points.
Winterburn was disappointed with the score but used the fixture as another opportunity to learn about his side.
He said: “It was a game that I know both managers were disappointed with their teams finishing and under par performances.
“After 45 minutes I just knew one goal was going to decide the outcome and with 90% of decisions going against us, I just knew the outcome was going to hurt us more.
“We are now three matches in, and so far I’ve started three different line-ups due to injuries and it hasn’t helped us settle, but at the same time it has given me the opportunity to see which players have earned the right to start the next game.
“Hopefully I can get the team settled and back to winning ways.
“Leeds United are up next and it won’t be easy, but the team I put out will be ready and up for the challenge.”
LINE-UP: Routledge, Roberts (c), Parrish, Sandford, Dyson (J. White, 47), Norde, Sumaili, Stube, Maxted, Prothero, Hunt. Subs: Clark, Willoughby