As the teams warmed up you just knew that the wind would play it’s part on another sunny day at Oakwell. This was the quarter final league cup and Farsley Celtic Ladies have had a good season.

Barnsley Ladies won the toss electing to play with the wind and sun behind them, so it was Farsley Celtic Ladies playing in blue who kicked off. The initial minutes saw the players trying to adjust to the conditions of a dry bobbly pitch and strong wind resulting in over or under passing, before on 4 mins Brittany Sanderson nicked the ball in midfield, found Kathryn Smith who passed out to Drew Greene on the right wing, she managed to cross under pressure towards Amy Woodruff, but the Goal keeper was quickly out to clear.
It was Drew Greene after 6 mins that drove hard to the goal line managing to get the better of 2 defenders before pulling it back to Holly Findlay on the edge of the area, she was closed down before being able to shoot, so played the ball back to Abby Parkin who struck a speculative goal ward shot from 38 yards which hit the right hand upright and away for a goal kick.
Then after 8 mins the Farsley Celtic No 7 broke down their right wing, Darcie Greene tracking the run before closing her down with a block tackle that ricocheted off the Farsley player away for a goal kick.
Brittany Sanderson received the ball in midfield after 11 minutes and played it back to Bryony Hudson, who squared it to Rebecca Wilson, but she was quickly put under pressure and her pass forward was intercepted and played out to the right winger who drove to the goal line and crossed, but their forward under pressure from Lucy Turner miss kicked and the ball went out for a throw.
Amy Woodruff came deep to pick up the ball after 15mins, she played it back to Abby Parkin, who spotting the run of Holly Findlay played the ball over the Farsley defence, but in the chase Holly was shouldered fairly off the ball, but gave away a free kick by pushing back unfairly just outside the Farsley penalty area. Then as the goal keeper prepared to take it and the players walked back to their positions the Farsley Celtic No5 kicked out at Holly Findlay, it was missed by the Referee but after discussion with his assistant on that side the Red card was shown and No5 was dismissed. Farsley were forced to take off one of their attackers to shore up the defence.
Then on 19 mins a breakthrough for Barnsley when Darcie Greene took a throw on the left into Lucy Turner, she played the ball across the back to Abby Parkin on the right, picking out Drew Greene up the right wing. Drew played a delightful through ball in front of Amy Woodruff who pressed the retreating defender who was forced to try and kick the ball out for a corner, unfortunately for Farsley the ball looped up and in the wind went over the goal keeper who was off her line and into the goal. 1-0 Barnsley.
Even though they were down to 10 Farsley continued to press and hassle Barnsley, then when the opportunity arrived they attacked strongly, one such occasion in the 20th minute saw a through ball which Lucy Turner just managed to push wide out of the feet of the attacker, but into the winger whose shot was calmly caught by Bryony Hudson.
Then on 22 mins Drew Greene attacked down the right wing, she found Amy Woodruff who set the ball back for Kathryn Smith to shoot, it beat the goal keeper but not the crossbar, rebounding to Holly Findlay but she was quickly closed down by 2 defenders and the ball was cleared.
Abby Parkin took a throw to Drew Greene after 24mins, she picked out a pass to Brittany Sanderson central just outside the penalty D, her shot was deflected though and looped up for an easy catch by the goal keeper.
After 30 mins Amy Woodruff pressed and won the ball in a strong challenge, before setting off down the left wing, she played it back to Darcie Greene in support, playing a one –two with Kathryn Smith, but it was defended well and cleared.
Then on 38 mins Farsley built a good attack down the right which ended with a cross straight across the face of goal with no one there. From the resulting goal kick Darcie Greene played in Kathryn Smith who drove strongly into the Farsley penalty area, but the goal keeper was alert to it, coming out to close Kathryn down as a defender slid in to win the ball.
After 43 mins Rebecca Wilson played a long ball into Amy Woodruff at the edge of the penalty area, she played it square to Kathryn Smith but her shot was once again blocked and cleared.
Half-Time 1-0 Barnsley and a substitution with Laura Shepherd coming on for Amy Woodruff.

HT 1-0

From the kick off Farsley came out strong, winning the ball off Darcie Greene they attacked into the penalty area, but a combination of Lucy Turner and Rebecca Wilson blocked shots and passes in a bit of a scramble before finally clearing the ball to safety.
Barnsley quickly settled though with Abby Parkin playing the ball up to Holly Findlay, she played it back to Kathryn Smith who spotted Brittany Sanderson clear on the left, Brit attacked into the box and shot, but the keeper was positioned well to catch at her near post.
Abby Parkin looped around Drew Greene after 51 minutes, driving to the goal line before crossing towards the head of Brittany Sanderson, fortunately for Farsley the goal keeper just managed to get a hand to deflect it away and out for a Barnsley throw which came to nothing.
57 mins gone and Brittany Sanderson picked up the ball in midfield, drawing a defender she then drove towards the box releasing Holly Findlay one on one with the goal keeper who forced her wide, so she played it back to Darcie Greene crossing deep to her sister Drew. Under pressure she managed to fashion ½ yard and shoot, but it was easily saved by the goal keeper.
61 mins and changes for Barnsley with Holly Findlay replaced by Amy Woodruff and Lucy Turner for Georgina Wilson.
Farsley Celtic were not beaten, they were still working hard, pressing Barnsley and forcing errors as well as being 1st to the 50/50 balls, this was getting nervous to watch.
70 mins and Kathryn Smith was replaced by Holly Findlay.
77 minutes gone Amy Woodruff played in Drew Greene, she drove into the box and played it out back to Amy who was quickly surrounded by blue shirts, she managed to play it back to Drew whose shot was cleared by the diving feet of the goal keeper.
Then on 79 mins Drew Greene was put through on goal beating the off-side trap for once, but the ball bobbled up as she was preparing to shoot causing her to miss kick tamely into the hands of the goal keeper.
Farsley had gone 2 up front in the 2nd half and after 82 mins this nearly paid off when Georgina Wilson under pressure played it back to Bryony Hudson, but she was also quickly put under pressure but calmly side stepped and cleared.
87 minute and Darcie Greene played Holly Findlay into the penalty area, she shot strongly but the goal keeper was down quickly managing to push it past her right hand post and out for a corner.
There had been a lot of substitutions for Farsley, but it was still a bit of a surprise when 3 mins extra time were announced.
On 90 mins Abby Parkin attacked down the right wing, she managed to cross, which for once avoided the head of the Farsley centre back who had cleared everything Barnsley had threw into the box, the cross fell instead to Amy Woodruff who fashioned a shot but just wide.
Then as Holly Findlay drove into the left had side of the penalty box, she was tripped by the defender, who did win the ball but also took out the player, Penalty awarded. Up stepped Danielle Lowe, who had spent most of the 2nd half working hard just in front of the Barnsley Defence. As the goal keeper moved to her right , Danielle struck the ball into the top left corner of the goal. 2-0 Barnsley.

FT 2-0

So many times you watch matches where the team with only 10 players step up to frustrate the team with 11. Today was one of those matches, full credit to Farsley Celtic for their intensity throughout the full 93 minutes, but it is Barnsley Ladies who are now through to the semi-final of the League cup.