Early Pre-Season Success for Reserves away at Unity

Pre-season for both the senior teams saw new faces, old faces returning and friendly competition to push each other fitter, faster and develop new skills. As with the first team match day teams were arranged around the available players, with well-deserved holidays being taken to recharge after such an exciting season.

So at the end of July when the side stepped out onto the 4G surface against AFC Unity at Fir Vale sports there was a reunion like atmosphere as players caught up before getting into match mode.
Tash was the 1st half goal keeper with a back four of Emily, Mel, Beth and Niamh. In front of them Bev started as holding midfield with Kayleigh, Brogan, Bekkie and Alayna with Ellie up front. Subs were Charlotte and Chloe.
From the kick off Barnsley won the ball, with Brogan playing a ball over the top for Alayna to chase down before laying back to Ellie whose shot fizzed the wrong side of the left hand post. But Unity attacked down their right quickly which was defended with a calm back pass to Tash only for her clearance to be intercepted by Unity striker who tried and audacious shot from distance which was safely gathered.
2 mins gone Emily drove forward up the right wing to cross into the penalty area towards Ellie but it was cut out. One minute later it was Alayna’s turn down the right, this time laying it back to Ellie who crossed to Bekkie, shooting just wide of the right hand post.
In the 5th min Brogan played a deep through ball into the left channel which Ellie chased down to win a throw which was taken quickly back to Brogan whose shot rebounded clear off the left hand post.
After 9 mins at the end of another Barnsley attack the unity goal keeper cleared up field but it was controlled by Emily who released Alayna threading the ball through the Unity defence, her shot going just wide of the right hand post.
Finally after all their pressure a break through, when on 13 mins Bekkie played a through ball into the right channel which Alayna met and struck sweetly passed the goal keeper to score. 0-1 Barnsley.
Tash started the next move playing out wide to Beth who passed inside to Emily turning her defender to release Alayna again, she played the square ball into Ellie whose shot once again went just wide. 16 mins gone Brogan played a pass through to Alayna, this time seeing her shot saved by the goal keeper.
18 mins gone and Beth released Kayleigh down the left, she managed to get into the penalty area before shooting just wide.
In the 19th min Alayna drove down the right wing before crossing into Brogan whose shot went low into the goal 0-2 Barnsley.
Changes for Barnsley with Chloe and Charlotte coming on for Brogan and Beth.
21st min Alayna played a one two with Bekkie before releasing Emily on the loop down the right, she drove into the penalty area before shooting at the goal keeper.
Then Bekkie received the ball with her back to goal central just outside the penalty area, she turned and scored in the top left corner 0-3 Barnsley 27 mins gone.
Ellie won the ball back after 33 mins and decided to weave her way through the Unity defence before shooting passed the goal keeper for her second goal 0-4 Barnsley.
Brogan and Beth returned for Emily and Mel.
From a free kick won just inside the Unity half, Beth played it short to Chloe, who threaded the pass through to Ellie to score her hat-trick just inside the left hand post 0-5 Barnsley.
Unity attacked down their right wing after 40 mins, but as she tried to break away Charlotte chased back and made a controlled clean sliding challenge out for a throw.
Mel came on for Niamh who had felt a slight twinge, no point taking risks sensible to get some treatment.
Beth decided after 41 mins to have a run forward, driving through midfield and into the penalty area but under pressure from a defender her shot went just wide.
Final action of the half saw a Unity break away, with the striker one on one with Tash, she stood tall to make the save. Half time 0-5 Barnsley.
Bev went in goal for the second half with Tash moving into a more usual defensive position. Emily returning for Alayna.
Barnsley were straight back into it, with Bekkie threading a ball through to Ellie one on one with the Unity Keeper who saved.
In the 47th minute Chloe, who was being terrier like in midfield, won the ball back and ran through the midfield before being tackled by a defender but still managing to pass out to Emily who played a square ball to Kayleigh, shooting just wide.
Unity broke down their left in the 49th min and crossed into the penalty area, the shot was too hard for Bev to stop despite a valiant dive attempt. 1-5 Barnsley.
Beth released Emily down the right wing after 53 mins, she lifted her head to spot and play square to Kayleigh, who was cleanly tackled before she had a chance to shoot.
A lovely move in the 55th min saw Brogan play into the left channel where Bekkie held and then played in Kayleigh who feinted to drive at the defence to then play square back to Brogan whose shot fizzed just wide of the left hand post
56th minute Mel charged forward from defence, she played a lovely one two with Kayleigh continuing her run to break through the Unity defence before calmly lobbing the goal keeper to watch the ball bounce into the net. 1-6 Barnsley.
From the kick off Ellie won the ball dribbled passed three Unity players to shoot and score inside the left hand post 1-7 Barnsley.
59th min Brogan released Emily beating the off-side line she calmly rounded the diving Unity keeper to score 1-8 Barnsley.
Changes for Barnsley with Alayna and Niamh returning for Ellie and Kayleigh.
67th minute Chloe played a through ball for Niamh to chase down and see her left footed shot saved. One minute later Emily down the right wing squared the ball to the edge of the penalty area which Alayna ran onto shooting first time to score 2-8 Barnsley, then the two linked up again with Alayna releasing Emily to shoot just over.
On a rare attack in the 69th minute Unity scored 2-9 Barnsley.
Emily took a Barnsley corner in the 70th minute which was deep and not dealt with by Unity, the ball falling to Brogan who tapped it into the goal. 2-10 Barnsley
Kayleigh and Ellie came back on for Bekkie and Chloe.
Ellie beat the offside line on 86th min to score in the top right corner. 2-11 Barnsley
Final action saw Mel release Kayleigh through on goal only for the goal keeper to save. Final Score 2-11 to Barnsley FC Ladies Development
Satisfying confidence building performance with match skills sharpened and lessons learned how to play against a high defensive line to avoid offside. It was also Beth’s last match before she leaves to experience football in the USA college system, we wish you well Beth.

YouReds!!