09.10.16 York City Ladies vs First team
The team travelled to the York City Ladies pitch at St John's University Sports Park in dull, damp conditions. Playing for the first time this season on a modern 4G artificial surface and this clearly impacted the normal crisp control of the Barnsley passing game, adjustments were required.
York were keen to revenge the result from the week before and started strongly, attacking the Barnsley midfield and then looking to play the through ball to turn the Barnsley defence. From one such attack the York Centre winger was able to race clear and get a shot away across the front of Laura Wilson, as she raced out to close down the angle, to score off the far goal upright.
Barnsley were not getting much joy through the midfield with York pressing them hard, giving no time on the ball to compose and pick a pass. So instead tried to release Holly Findlay or Darcie and Drew Greene down the wings with a ball over the top from Lucy Turner, but many times on a narrow short pitch the ball sped away off the damp surface.
A strong press by York in the midfield turned a Barnsley attack into a through ball this time over the top of the Barnsley defence which was controlled by the York Centre forward to get a shot away from 15 m flashing by Laura Wilson's despairing dive.
Just before the break a good link up between Rebecca Wilson and Darcie Greene down the left wing stretched the York midfield and when the inside pass was played to Danielle Lowe a glimpse of space and she let rip with a shot from 25 m which beat the York Keeper. 2-1 at half-time.

2nd Half Barnsley came out really strong, York were under pressure with Holly having more success chasing down passes as the team tuned into the conditions. Strong linkages down the right and left wings were resulting in crosses into the box, but these chances kept falling to York defenders. When balls were pulled back the retreating York midfield was able to clear. Amy Woodruff came on for Holly Findlay to put fresh legs into the attack. York were now trying to slow the game down. Changes in the Barnsley midfield saw the introduction of Rebecca Fevers and Kathryn Smith for Laura Shepherd and Drew Greene. Barnsley were now pressing hard when a rare York break out saw the through ball down the right turned into a foot race which the York centre forward just able to edge out Stephanie Rigby to get her shot away and beat the out rushing Laura Wilson.
After a frustrating few weeks recovering from an ankle injury Abby Parkin replaced Emily Ward for the final 10mins at right back

The match was getting tense as the minutes slipped away, a strong challenge on Brittany Sanderson saw her replaced by Georgina Wilson who was instructed to sit in front of the Barnsley defensive line and allow the Midfield to exert even more attacking pressure. Then finally a break through with another break down the right wing resulted in a cross from Abby Parkin toward the back of the goal area which this time found a sliding Rebecca Wilson to slot the ball into the back of the net, 3-2. Still Barnsley pressed for the point saving goal but it was not to be. Final score 3-2.
There was obvious disappointment, in the 2nd half especially only good York defending and their keeper had prevented Barnsley turning this one around, there were positives though with both Abby Parkin and Laura Wilson showing performance that show they are getting over their injuries and back to full match fitness.

Next week sees the Reds travel up to Tyneside against Tynedale Ladies at Kingsley Park