[BFC SITE] Reds lose out in South Yorkshire derby

Barnsley FC Women were defeated in their South Yorkshire derby clash with Doncaster Rovers Belles, falling 3-2 at the Eco-Power Stadium in a spirited performance.

The Reds had their first chance of the game after five minutes, when Louisa Barraclough took a corner kick short, into the path of Wilcock. A swift one-two saw the ball back with the wing-back, who whipped a cross into the path of Barnsley skipper, Charley Evans, who was unable to direct her header on target. Fellow forward Louise Biggins then came close ten minutes later, racing in on goal from the right flank into a one-on-one position, where her well-hit shot forced a save from the Doncaster ‘keeper.

The home side were not without their own opportunities however, with forward Jasmine Saxton coming close in the 24th minute, hitting the outside of the stanchion with a run from the right. Eight minutes, a free kick from the midfielder Farrow was denied by an excellent save from Reds’ stopper, Becky Flaherty.

Jodie Gregory then came close to opening the scoring with a minute left of normal time in the first half, with the Reds’ number 9 hitting a shot from 30 yards out which was collected by the opposition shotstopper.

The Reds were left to rue this missed opportunity just a minute later, when Doncaster Rovers Belles scored the opening goal on the cusp of half time. Build-up play from the Doncaster midfield was able to bypass a Barnsley defensive line which had been solid throughout the half, allowing Saxton to finish with a placed shot, meaning that Barnsley FC Women went into half time a goal down, but with plenty of time left to stage a comeback.

HALF TIME: Doncaster Rovers Belles 1-0 Barnsley FC Women

Just two minutes after the restart, the winger Wilcock came close to producing an equaliser with an excellent run into the box, with her resultant effort only being denied by a last ditch tackle from an opposition defender.

The Reds were not to be denied their moment, however, and in the 55th minute, a leveller was found through a moment of brilliance. The skipper Evans once more picked up the ball in space, hitting an excellent effort from 25 yards out which comfortably beat the Doncaster ‘stopper, and restored the stalemate. A resurgent Reds’ side were buoyed by this goal, and looked set to complete the fightback in the 64th minute, when Gregory cut down the right flank, hitting a great shot from just inside the area, which was directed marginally wide of the mark.

Following this flurry of chances, Doncaster Rovers Belles managed to control possession for a period of time, nullifying the persistent Barnsley high press. Captain Evans was sinbinned in the 67th minute, and the Reds being reduced to ten allowed the home side to capitalise four minutes later, with Farrow managing to break free of her marker amidst an attacking melee in the area, sidefooting a close range effort past Flaherty into the net.

Farrow was then on hand once more six minutes later, managing to find space in the box with an effort from eighteen yards out which was able to beat the Reds’ stopper and leave Barnsley FC Women with a two-goal deficit to overturn in the closing minutes of the contest. The Reds came close to doing so initially through Wilcock, with the winger hitting an audacious effort from thirty-five yards out in the 85th minute which tested the Doncaster ‘keeper.

And it was a similar long range effort which culminated in Barnsley’s second goal of the afternoon. Receiving the ball in space in response to a Doncaster defensive clearance, midfielder Ruby Jex-Oldfield was able to unleash a rocket of a shot, which curled over the opposition ‘stopper and nestled into the net, setting up an exciting finale to the contest.

The Reds continued to battle hard in the closing minutes, but were unable to add a third goal to their tally for the afternoon, meaning that they suffered their first away defeat in the FA Women’s National League.

FULL TIME: Doncaster Rovers Belles 3-2 Barnsley FC Women

Barnsley XI: Flaherty (GK), Barraclough, Evans (C), Woodhouse, Gregory, Wilcock, Jex-Oldfield, Buckle, Walton, Turton-Burrell, Biggins

Subs: Ridsdel-Harrison (GK), Wilson-Roberts, Chincharo, Brown, Fevers

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Well done anyway lasses.