The clouds were gathered above as the teams took to the pitch for the NERWFL League Cup final at Wilberfoss, York. Both teams wearing their home kits with pride having reached this season ending finale, Wallsend BC Ladies Fc in Green and Black and Barnsley FC Ladies in Red and White.
It was Barnsley who were first out of the blocks with Danielle Lowe letting rip from the edge of the penalty area forcing a right hand save from the Wallsend goalkeeper after just 2 mins.
Then in the 5th minute Amy Woodruff tried an audacious lob over the keeper from 20 yards resulting in the 1st score, 0-1 Barnsley.
But Wallsend came back forcing Bryony Hudson to save with her right foot to prevent the ball going into the bottom corner, in the 6th minute and again after 8 mins from a corner Sam Campion headed over the cross bar.
Wallsend were getting into the game with spells of possession in the Barnsley half all dealt with good defence by Lucy Turner, Georgina Wilson, Abby Parkin, Darcie Greene and Laura Shepherd.
18 minutes gone and from a good Barnsley build up Holly Findlay crossed into the box but just too high for Amy Woodruff to reach. But Wallsend were straight back on the attack with Brittany Sanderson clearing from the edge of the area, but straight back on the attack with Jess Clark shooting over the crossbar.
26 minutes gone and quick feet from Brittany Sanderson played in Holly Findlay to shoot just wide, and then Katie McTague in the Wallsend goal made a great save from 6 yards out to deny Barnsley from scoring.
The game was end to end and on 30 minutes Holly Findlay found the head of Amy Woodruff but just over the crossbar.
Wallsend attacked down the right in the 32nd minute to win a corner which found Lizzie Campbell to shoot but blocked strongly by Lucy Turner. Brittany Sanderson completing the clearance and setting up a counterattack from which Barnsley won a corner. Abby Parkin took the corner and Amy Woodruff met it cleanly only to see if rebound off the crossbar.
37th Minute and Kathryn Smith replaces Laura Shepherd.
44th minute and Abby Parkin crossed to Holly Findlay whose goal bound header was saved by the Wallsend keeper’s finger tips, with Drew Greene shooting from edge of the box narrowly wide.
Half time 0-1 to Barnsley FC Ladies and Rebecca Fevers replaced Holly Findlay.
Wallsend started the 2nd half, but Barnsley quickly won the ball and Brittany Sanderson crossed into Amy Woodruff to once again see her head rebound off the cross bar, but this time Drew Greene was there to slot home 0-2 Barnsley ladies.
No time to relax though as Wallsend pressed to get back into the game, 48 minutes a shot was straight into the hands of Bryony Hudson and 49 minutes shooting just wide.
In the 50th minute Abby Parkin took a free kick into Danielle Lowe to shoot over the crossbar. Then in the 54th minute Danielle Lowe drove into the Wallsend penalty area but was tackled and cleared for a throw in from which the ball was headed by Wallsend into Brittany Sanderson who shot high and wide.
56 minutes gone and Wallsend shot was saved by Bryony Hudson who gathered it at the second attempt shielded by Darcie Greene. Then in the 59th minute it took both Georgina Wilson and Bryony Hudson to clear from another Wallsend attack.
60th minute Darcie Greene took a throw just inside the Wallsend half which Brittany Sanderson headed back to her on the loop round. She crossed into the penalty area but the Wallsend keeper gathered safely.
After 62 minutes Rebecca Fevers picked up the ball 30 yards out, hitting a powerful shot which was blocked by Wallsend defender. Then in the 63rd minute Kathryn Smith finally got space to try a long shot but over the cross bar.
64th minute and Drew Greene drove down the right getting to the goal line before crossing into the penalty area to the feet of Brittany Sanderson who was then one on one with the goal keeper, trying a shot around her which the keeper saved.
Then in the 65th comedy moment of the match with Bryony Hudson having to swap one boot with manager Ian after her boot split, but only one boot. Ian put on the split boot, perhaps they were trying to start a new fashion trend? Then, when Kathryn Smith was penalised for handball 25 yards out, Wallsend took the free kick which Bryony Hudson saved with her right foot, thanks Ian.
71 minutes gone and Darcie Greene shot just wide before Drew Greene was replaced with Holly Findlay returning to the field of play.
Then after 74 minutes Wallsend played a long ball over the top of the Barnsley defence which was chased down by their striker to score in the bottom left corner, 1-2.
Barnsley were straight back with Amy Woodruff breaking clear onto a ball played over the Wallsend defence by Brittany Sanderson, but her shot was wide.
In the 76th minute Kathryn Smith drew a fingertip save from the Wallsend keeper, Katie McTague, to tip the ball over the cross bar for a corner from which Rebecca Fevers touch was a little too hard and out for a goal kick.
78th minute and Darcie Greene looped around Brittany Sanderson down the left wing to cross wide of the goal. Barnsley pressure was building again and in the 79th min Kathryn Smith laid the ball into Brittany Sanderson who played in Amy Woodruff to see her shot saved. Then Amy Woodruff crossed ball was headed away by Wallsend into Rebecca Fevers but the ball got caught under her feet and Wallsend cleared. Then in the 82nd minute Bryony Hudson came out quickly to try and close down a Wallsend attack, their centre forward got their first and lobbed over into the net 2-2 game on, could Barnsley hold out?
Heads didn’t go down with Brittany Sanderson attacking down the right to cross, but was fouled. From the free kick Amy Woodruff managed to jump under pressure from a Wallsend player to get the back of her head to the ball and watch it fly into the net, 2-3 Barnsley back in front.
86th minute a Wallsend corner was dealt with and then Emily Ward came on right wing to replace Brittany Sanderson, with Holly Findlay moving to left wing.
88th minute and Darcie Greene tried a 30 yard shot but into the keepers hands.
Final Whistle and Barnsley FC Ladies close off the season as crowned NERWFL League Cup Champions, thank you to Wallsend BC Ladies FC for making it a tight final and to all the supporters who made the trip to York.

Most of all THANK YOU to All the Barnsley FC Ladies Squad for entertaining us all through an excellent season. Should we do it all over again in the 2017-18 Season? YOU REDS!!!!!!!!