Farsley Celtic Women kick started their 2024/25 season with a return to FA Cup action after 3 years away. Drawn against Sheffield United Community Women in the first qualifying round, the game took place at Amaranth FC due to the work on the pitch at the Citadel and it was a strong squad named by Izzy Roads and Connor Cowan featuring two debutants and plenty of experience from last season’s promotion winning campaign.

The early moments of the game were fairly balanced as both teams worked their way into the game with Sheffield United Community actually getting the best chance with an effort that was flashed across the face of goal.

This seemed to kick Farsley into action and they soon found themselves getting a lot of success with through-balls to wingers Shirley Murphy and Georgia Bull allowing them to get in behind the Sheffield defence on a number of occasions and it was Georgia Bull who continued her fine scoring form from preseason by opening the scoring from close range after some brilliant work by Murphy on the wing.

36 minutes in and we had another goal, this time scored by Emma Elliott on her competitive debut for the club. Taking the ball down with her head, she lashed a volley on target and it found its way in to double the lead. Scoring her first goal definitely gave her confidence and there will be plenty to see from our new striker over the coming season.

With a 2-0 lead at the break there was no need for any major changes and it was a case of picking up where they left off in the second half as Shirley Murphy scored her obligatory goal on 55 minutes, curling one over the goalkeeper from the corner of the penalty box with a lovely strike.

Two minutes later we were celebrating again as Georgia Bull got up unmarked to bury a header past the keeper after Lauren Rigby’s corner was perfectly placed for her. Bull was clearly pleased with the effort and even Sheffield United Community pulling one back a few minutes later could not dampen her spirit as on the 78th minute Bull scored our final goal of the day to complete her perfect hat-trick, the first she had scored for the club to confirm our place in the second qualifying round with a 5-1 statement victory.

Up next in the Adobe Women’s FA Cup for Farsley Celtic is a short trip over to Bradford to take on Bradford City for a place in the third qualifying round on Sunday 22nd of September, but next week our attentions turn to Premier Division action as our league campaign begins with our visit to Wyke Wanderers.