FAWNL Division One North

Barnsley FC Women 2 (Pierrepont 5', Csomor 11')

Leeds United Women 0

Barnsley: Clarke (GK) (C), Marshall, Michalska, Marsden, Csomor (Findlay 71’), Beck (Millard 79’), Parkin, Gompertz, Ashton (Jex-Oldfield 51’), Pierrepont, Shaw. Subs not used: Coe, Biggins.

Leeds: Simpson (GK), Bass (C), Smart (Hindle 64’), Hamill, Danby, Price (Dobby 90’), Brown, Soares-Martins, Bartup (Underdown 82’), Whitham, Robson.

Venue: Wombwell Town FC

Referee: C. Treharne

Leeds United Women fell to a 2-0 defeat against Barnsley Women’s FC in their second game of the season, and first away from home of the campaign.

Rick Passmoor’s injury-hit squad fell just short against a strong and organised Barnsley side who retain their place at the top of the table, with six points from six.

The Whites were missing six first team players due to injuries and illness, plus Paige Williams who was serving the first of a three game ban following last week’s red card.

Despite this, Leeds started well and had the first chance of the game when Laura Bartup headed over from an Olivia Smart corner on four minutes, but less than a minute later it was the hosts who took the lead.

Emily Pierrepont latched on to a long ball over the Leeds defence and coolly lobbed over Leeds goalkeeper Carrie Simpson. 

It was 2-0 to Barnsley on 11 minutes when a high cross from the left wasn’t dealt with by Leeds, and Courteney Csomor arrived at the back post to head in.

The hosts threatened to make it 3-0 on 19 minutes with two chances from successive set pieces, Simpson made an excellent stop to deny Jodie Michalska and Amy Beck flashed a header just wide.

Bartup had Leeds’ best chance of the half two minutes later she was played clean through by a brilliant diagonal ball from Cath Hamill. She tried to lob Barnsley keeper Serena Clarke but put too much on it and it sailed over the bar.

Leeds continued to press but struggled to create chances, the best they could muster before the break was when Abby Brown smashed a volley wide on 41 minutes.

Beck came close again for Barnsley on the stroke of half time, she met a corner with a powerful header but couldn’t keep it down.

HALF TIME: Barnsley Women 2-0 Leeds United Women      

The second half started slowly with neither side really getting a hold of the game, as both teams came out unchanged from the teams that had began the match.

Barnsley looked to continue threatening from set pieces, with Shaw and Beck both failing to convert headed chances.

Leeds’ best chance to halve the arrears came on 75 minutes when Danielle Whitham's shot was blocked into the path of Bartup. The striker remained calm in the box to dummy past a Barnsley defender but saw her shot brilliantly saved by Clarke, who has having an impressive afternoon between the posts for the Reds.

The Whites began to build a bit of momentum after that, Bartup saw a free-kick blocked and Leeds stayed on top for the remainder of the game but couldn’t break down a very strong Barnsley team.

Passmoor’s side have a chance to return to winning ways quickly as they face Stockport County on Wednesday evening, in a 7:45pm kick off at Tadcaster Albion’s So-Trak Stadium.

Full time: Barnsley Women 2-0 Leeds United Women