Barnsley Ladies FC squad, as County Cup holders, were gathered with the Oakwell stand behind them as they prepared to board their coach to make the 45min journey to St Georges Park Graves. Huddersfield Town ladies awaited them in the 2017 SHCFA Womens Cup Final sponsored by SGP Graves and Thorncliffe. Dave the coach driver, gave his safety briefing welcome and blasted out tunes on the way, as thoughts moved to the evening ahead.
19.30 Warm up was going well, all the team decked out in commemorative T-shirts provided by sponsor Annie Murrays Irish Bar, as usual Kathryn Smith put one ball over the top of the cage and out of bounds as she tuned in her shooting boots. There was a good sized crowd building with Red being the predominant colour, with many players from the Barnsley Junior teams having persuaded parents to bring them to watch.
19.40 when the weather decided to provide the pre-match pitch watering, just to make it a bit more interesting but thankfully it had stopped raining by 19.50 when both teams walked out on to the pitch behind the match officials, Barnsley players with their proud U9’s as mascots. Photos and Respect handshake completed and it was game time.

It was Barnsley Ladies who kicked off and they went straight into high tempo pressing and passing of the ball, for both teams showing signs of the nervous energy of the occasion, as to be expected through touches that were not as crisp as they would have liked.
After 2 minutes Drew Greene picked up a pass from Kathryn Smith and drove into the penalty area, her shot was half blocked by the Huddersfield defender and into the hands of the goalkeeper.
Then after 5 mins with Barnsley growing in confidence and o a promising attack, Huddersfield Town managed to clear the ball out to the right, from where a diagonal pass forward, just eluded the lunge of Rebecca Wilson on half way. It dissected the centre backs and put the Huddersfield centre forward through one on one with Bryony Hudson, she shimmied slightly before calmly slotting the ball into the bottom right of the Barnsley goal. 0-1 Huddersfield Town.
Barnsley to their credit were straight back on it. 8 minutes gone and Brittany Sanderson picked out the run of Amy Woodruff on the left wing, beating the offside trap she drove into the penalty area before attempting to lob the goalkeeper, but the ball slipped wide of the right hand post.

9 mins and a weak Huddersfield Town back pass, was nearly pounced on by Holly Findlay, pressuring the goal keeper she forced a Barnsley throw high in the Huddersfield Town half.
There was always a Huddersfield threat, 12 mins gone and they broke down the right, driving into the box to shoot to the near post that went past Bryony Hudson and was heading goal ward, when Abby Parkin and their centre forward managed to get across to somehow clear the ball off the goal line, no idea who got the last touch but we are giving the credit to Abby.
From a Danielle Lowe free kick out on the right wing, Brittany Sanderson rose high behind the keeper, but she managed to catch the ball before Brit could direct it into the goal.
18 minutes gone and Abby Parkin found the feet of Amy Woodruff, she drove forward into the box towards two defenders, managing to thread the ball through to Kathryn Smith on her right, hitting the ball 1st time it was blocked by a defender and out for a throw, which was then defended out for a Barnsley corner. Although the corner was well defended, the clearance went to Abby Parkin, who tried a speculative long range shot which was calmly caught by the Huddersfield keeper.

The game had a positive pace about it, both teams intent on attacking but also resolute in defence. 20 mins gone and Brittany Sanderson from midfield played a ball over the top of the Huddersfield defence and into the right channel for Drew Greene. She turned her defender inside out, managing to reach the goal line before flashing a cross across the goal area which the goal keeper could only push out to the edge of the penalty area from where Amy Woodruff, hit a shot, but it was straight at the goal keeper.
23 mins and the Huddersfield centre forward picked up a pass over the head of Darcie Greene down the right wing and drove to the goal line, closely marked by Rebecca Wilson there was no way through to goal, but somehow she managed to get a cross away past Bryony Hudson at her near post but safely dealt with by the head of Lucy Turner.
In the 26th minute as Huddersfield thwarted yet another Barnsley attack the clearance fell once again to Abby Parkin to unleash another long range effort, this time just over the cross bar.

28 mins gone and Huddersfield’s turn to attack, but solid defending saw a long range shot blocked by Rebecca Wilson out for a throw.
Kathryn Smith miss controlled the ball on halfway on 31 mins, which almost released Huddersfield, but she quickly made amends by sprinting back to put in a strong shoulder to shoulder challenge to fairly win the ball back and snuff out the danger.
Then after 34 mins from the back Rebecca Wilson played the ball across to Lucy Turner, her pass found Kathryn Smith on halfway to play in Amy Woodruff, drawing in two defenders she threaded the ball to Brittany Sanderson who probably for the first time in the match found a tiny space to get her shot away, but it was just wide of the left hand post.
Huddersfield attacked after 37 mins down their right, almost breaking through, but Lucy Turner covering across slid in to reach the ball before the Huddersfield centre forward.

There was nothing to separate these two teams, Barnsley were having the majority of the possession, but Huddersfield were playing a tight, pressing defence, managing to get a foot in or intercepting to break up the Barnsley waves of attack.
Then on 38 minutes Holly Findlay challenged and won the ball on halfway, she drove forward at pace into the Huddersfield left hand penalty area with two defenders in close company, one of the defenders managed to win the ball but Holly stuck at it, quickly winning it back to play a short pass to Amy Woodruff, who lifted the ball over the keeper and into the far right top corner of the goal for the equaliser. 1-1 and just what the Barnsley effort deserved.
No time to rest though as Huddersfield won a free kick on 40 mins down the right wing, resulting in a cross into a crowded goal area, which Bryony Hudson managed to rise high and push away with finger tips wide of the goal.

Half time and as the players left the pitch, spectators were all in agreement that this was a thrilling close contest with Barnsley ahead on possession but could they keep up the tempo in the second half against a side playing their football two divisions above them.

Huddersfield got the 2nd half underway, but it was Barnsley on the attack first when Brittany Sanderson’s pass released Holly Findlay down the left, she managed to keep the ball in play and drove to the goal line to cross, but the break had been too fast for there to be Barnsley player to reach it.
Another play from defence after 51 minutes saw Abby Parkin find Drew Greene on the right wing, she drove at the defence before passing square to Kathryn Smith to drive through into penalty area dissecting the Huddersfield centre backs, but her low hard shot was blocked away.
53 minutes gone, Huddersfield centre forward managed to pick up on a ball over the top of the Barnsley defence, she knew instinctively where her team mate would be as she blindly played the ball towards the penalty D from the goal line, only for the shot to flash wide of the Barnsley left hand post.
On 55 minutes Brittany Sanderson picked up the ball on halfway, she managed to turn and dribble to the edge of the penalty area before shooting just past the Huddersfield left hand post.
58 mins Abby Parkin drove at the left fullback, she played a square ball into Kathryn Smith on the edge of the penalty area to shoot first time, but it was saved by the diving Huddersfield keeper. From the goal kick the ball bounce into the path of the Huddersfield centre forward, who tried to dissect the Barnsley centre backs with her pace, but with Lucy Turner running on one shoulder and Rebecca Wilson on the other, it was Lucy that cleanly slid across to put the ball out for a corner, but she stayed down. Was it cramp or was it her ankle? After receiving assistance from Danielle Lowe she was back on her feet to head the corner clear.
60 mins gone and it was clear that Lucy was struggling, so the change was made with Georgina Wilson replacing her.
From a Huddersfield goal kick on 62 minutes Brittany Sanderson dribbled it straight back into the penalty area to shoot just over the crossbar.
63 minutes and Huddersfield attacked down their right wing, Darcie Greene & Rebecca Wilson kept the winger wide, but as she wriggled clear of their pressure to attempt to reach the goal line, it was Holly Findlay, tracking back that coolly pinched the ball from her toes as she threatened the Barnsley penalty area.
65 minutes gone saw a lovely one-two move between Amy Woodruff and Brittany Sanderson break through the Huddersfield defensive line, but a heavy touch by Amy saw the ball gratefully received by the goal keeper.
Darcie Greene as the Barnsley left back, won the ball on half way after 68 minutes, looking up she played a precision ball to her sister Drew in space on the right wing, Drew drove at the centre of defence and got her shot away but it was saved by the keeper.
70 mins Huddersfield attacked with Danielle Lowe in hot pursuit, Rebecca Wilson came across to cover and clear the ball, but Danielle went down with a twinge of cramp, but was up again after a bit of stretching.
Slowly Huddersfield were exerting more pressure on Barnsley as earlier exertions started to take effect. After 74 minutes they broke away down their left wing with Abby Parkin racing back to put their number 14 under pressure as she attacked the right hand side of the Barnsley penalty area, but it was Bryony Hudson quickly off her line that closed the angles down and managed to get her left hand down to block the low shot. The ball rebounded to another Huddersfield player but her shot was blocked by a diving Rebecca Wilson challenge to safety.
77 minutes and the Huddersfield No 14 drove again at the Barnsley defence of Abby Parkin and Georgina Wilson, despite their pressure she managed to make ½ yard to get a low shot away, which skipped off the surface, hitting the base of the left hand post, rebounding against the diving Bryony Hudson, fortunately she reacted quickly to stop the ball bouncing off her and into the back of the net. But there was no respite now, on 33 mins a Huddersfield midfielder lobbed Bryony Hudson, but the ball went passed the left hand post and out for a goal kick.
79 minutes Kathryn Smith was replaced by Rebecca Fevers to put fresh legs into the Barnsley midfield.
Darcie Greene drove forward down the left wing after 81 minutes, picking out Brittany Sanderson with her pass. Brittany feinted one way and turned the other to beat her marker, but she was quickly closed down by another Huddersfield player, the ball came to Rebecca Fevers who played it out to Drew Greene to drive it into the corner, but it was defended to safety.
84 minutes gone and the Huddersfield No 14 was once again attacking the right hand side of the Barnsley defence, but no way through for her with a good challenge from Georgina Wilson winning the ball back to clear into the midfield, from where a speculative shot was hit that went over the crossbar.
86 minutes saw a Huddersfield attack down the middle which was blocked by Rebecca Wilson, but the ball was played to the centre forward out on the right wing, drawing both Rebecca Wilson and Darcie Greene across wide. The centre forward managed to get a cross into the box that was headed cleanly over Bryony Hudson and into the back of the Barnsley goal by an un-tracked Midfielder run. 1-2 Huddersfield.
Darcie Greene was replaced by Emily Ward after 89 minutes as Barnsley went to three at the back to try and push forward seeking an equaliser. It nearly paid off when Abby Parkin played a long flat cross from the right wing which eluded all players to come to Emily Ward running into the penalty area towards the far post from the left wing, she just managed to reach it and played it back centrally to the feet of Amy Woodruff to get her first time shot away , but straight into the hands of the Huddersfield goalkeeper.
Barnsley were pressing hard now and Huddersfield retreated to defence only as Drew Greene drove once more down the right, she picked out Brittany Sanderson, for whom it had been a clear tactic of Huddersfield to not afford her any time on the ball, and once again she was blocked out, but the ball fell to Holly Findlay who managed to win a final Barnsley throw from which Huddersfield cleared and the Final Whistle was blown after 93 minutes.

Barnsley Ladies have lost the final 1-2, but had worked hard all across the team, giving their all. Huddersfield Town had finally won the County Cup after being losing finalists for the last two seasons. It was the closest score since the cup was formed in 2009/10 season and the spectators had been treated to a well contested Respectful final.
Thanks to all the Match Officials for their part in controlling the final.
Unused Barnsley replacements were Laura Shepherd and Melissa Cole, with Manager Ian Clark and Assistant Manager Mike Eracleous encouraging from the bench and technical area, supported by Gavin Jeffels and Bekkie Hale.
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Next Match for Barnsley Ladies is a table topping fixture away at Norton and Stockton Ancients, so straight back to it girls, a win would close the gap to three points with two games to play to set up a thrilling end of the season.
Plus still in the League Cup with a Semi-final to be scheduled against Mallet Lambert YC FC or Sheffield Wednesday (to be played 2nd April), with Wallsend Buys Club LFC or Norton and Stockton Ancients in the final hopefully.