FA WNL Division One North
Barnsley FC 3 (Biggins 20’, Gregory 52’, Millard 65’)
Leeds United Women 2 (Drew Greene 45’, Hughes 76’)
Barnsley: Upson (GK), Evans (C), Rigby, Chincharo (Cheetham 60’), Woodhouse, Gregory, Jex-Oldfield, Buckle, Walton, Millard, Biggins. Subs not used: Marshall-Buxton, Dunsford, Horsley, Turton-Burrell.
Leeds: Simpson (GK), Legge (C), Turner, Hughes, Danby (Guy 71’), Dobson, Smith (Rousseau 66’), Drew Greene, Woodruff, Darcie Greene, White. Subs not used: Oates (GK), Waldron, Gibrill-Keating.
Referee: Jodie Hunter
Booked: Walton, Gregory (Barnsley) Legge (Leeds)
Venue: Oakwell
Leeds United Women slipped to a narrow defeat in the FA WNL Division One North after being beaten by Barnsley away from home.
The Whites started strongly at Oakwell, playing some intricate and incisive football as they searched for an early opener in the Yorkshire derby.
Skipper on the day Shauna Legge chipped a clever ball over the top which Kath Smith brought down well though, under pressure from a red shirt, the midfielder was unable to fashion a shooting opportunity.
Striker Amy Woodruff then tried an audacious overhead kick from the edge of the area which was blocked well before Stephanie Rigby hacked away for the hosts, with the pressure from Simon Wood’s side mounting.
The Whites attacked once more through Woodruff, twisting and turning her way into the box before lashing a left-footed strike narrowly over the bar.
Smith and Woodruff were lively in the game’s infancy; the forward would have had a sight of goal after latching onto Smith’s pass if not for the alert Freya Upson racing out of the Reds’ goal to smother.
It would be Victoria Chincharo next to make a crucial intervention for the home side, blocking Woodruff’s close-range chance with Smith unable to turn in the rebound.
Despite the waves of pressure from the visitors, Barnsley took the lead after they were awarded a penalty, with forward Louise Biggins finding the bottom corner from 12 yards.
United responded well to the setback as they searched for a quickfire leveller. Upson’s services were again called upon as her outstretched arm tipped Woodruff’s fizzing drive away from goal, before blocking Drew Greene’s follow up strike after a Sarah Danby delivery had initially been spilled.
Smith was next to go close, lashing a fierce shot agonisingly over the upright after a dangerous Danby corner had fallen kindly for the former Barnsley player.
Wood’s side weren’t to be denied a more than deserved equaliser before the break though, with the goal coming in impressive fashion after winger Drew Greene beat the offside trap to race in behind.
Despite the angle narrowing, the ex-Tykes player kept her composure to drill a low strike beyond Upson and into the far corner, restoring parity against her former club!
HALF TIME: Barnsley FC 1-1 Leeds United Women
Both sides emerged for the second half unchanged, though it was the hosts who started brightly looking to restore their lead.
Warning signs were there when midfielder Lissa Woodhouse rattled the woodwork with a rasping drive from range after Barnsley launched a quick counter down the right.
The Reds would go in front once more seven minutes after the break, when striker Jodie Gregory found the back of the net with a superb long-range effort.
Almost immediately, the Whites went close to levelling matters for a second time. Woodruff had weaved her way into the area from the left flank, lashing a powerful attempt that fizzed agonisingly past Upson’s far post.
Just after the hour mark, Barnsley extended their lead through Alayna Millard who rose highest to meet Betty Cheetham’s cross and head beyond Carrie Simpson and into the back of the net.
Reinforcements came as Jess Rousseau and Beth Guy were brought into the action in a slight change to the system as Leeds hunted for a route back into the clash.
Rousseau was involved straight away, producing a fine piece of skill to work a shooting opportunity on the edge of the area but was unable to work Upson in the Reds’ goal.
The deficit was halved with 14 minutes of time remaining. After Rousseau was felled deep into opposition territory, Ellie White’s pinpoint delivery picked out Alice Hughes who showed great composure to head into the corner!
Wood’s side then went desperately close to restoring parity on two occasions. Rousseau firstly dragged a left-footed effort inches past the post after linking up well with Woodruff and White, before Darcie Greene’s powerful drive from 30 yards out flashed just past the upright.
Leeds camped in the Tykes’ half in the closing stages as they searched for a last-gasp leveller, but the hosts’ defence stood firm before the full-time whistle sounded.
FULL TIME: Barnsley FC 3-2 Leeds United Women
