On paper this was always going to be a good test as the final pre-season game with Steel City Wanderers FC Ladies finishing 8th in WPL Midland Division 1 last season. But with holidays being squeezed in before the WPL season starts next week against Hull City, Barnsley were without Abby Parkin, Amy Woodruff, Holly Findlay, Laura Shepherd, Lucy Turner, Drew & Darcie Green and Danielle Lowe. So this was going to be an opportunity for others to show the depth of this squad of players and for Rebecca Wilson to return for a cameo role.

SGP Thorncliffe was the venue on a warm summers day as Barnsley took to the field in Red to face Steel City Wanderers in Black and white.
It was Steel City after 3 mins managed the first shot after brave defending by Georgina Wilson with Georgia Wattam gathering safely.
Then after 4 minutes Kathryn Smith played a lovely through ball to Alayna Millard who was cut down by the defender to be awarded a penalty that Kathryn Smith stepped up and struck to the right hand of the goal keeper as she dived to her left. 0-1 Barnsley.
Nikki Hogg picked up the ball in midfield after 7 mins, playing through to Rebecca Fevers who squared to Kathryn Smith to score 0-2 Barnsley.
9 mins gone Rebecca Fevers played Kathryn Smith through, driving from the left wing into the penalty area to shoot but this time saved.
Playing down the left wing again Kathryn Smith drove to the goal line this time to win a corner from which a Steel City defender headed clear only to see it fall to Rebecca Hale who hit a lovely shot which rattled back off the cross bar.
Then after 14 mins Melissa Cole cut off a Steel City break down their left wing, she played out to Emily Ward who then played a long ball which Alayna Millard chased down to see it fortunately bounce back off the corner flag, she managed a cross that was cleared, but it was retrieved by Emily Ward who tried to play to feet of Anna Cairns, but it was intercepted only for Anna to tackle back before playing in Rebecca Hale who turned her defender and shot just inside the left post to score 0-3 Barnsley.
Finally after 16 mins Steel city managed to attack with their left winger No 9 who took it round the Barnsley defence to the goal line, heading goal wards she shot from a narrow angle, which Georgina Wattam palmed onto her left hand post .
Changes for Barnsley after 19 mins with Ellie Brightmore coming on for Rebecca Hale, and Rebecca Wilson for Laura Windle.
Another break down the Barnsley left wing was set up by Nikki Hogg picking out Kathryn Smith, she took on the defence before crossing for Ellie Brightmore to shoot over the cross bar.
Then from a Barnsley goal kick to Georgina Wilson she uncharacteristically under hit the return ball to Georgia Wattam to see it intercepted by Steel City striker who managed to score from a tight angle as Georgia Wattam tried to recover. 1-3 Barnsley.
41 mins with a hint of offside Steel City broke through the centre, but Georgia Wattam was quick to close down the angle to save the shot out for a corner, from which under pressure she caught safely at full stretch.
At half time Georgian Wilson and Alayna Millard came off for Rebecca Hale and Laura Windle, with Rebecca Wilson dropping into the central defence alongside Melissa Cole.
48 mins gone Kathryn Smith and Laura Windle linked down the left wing to win a throw deep in Steel city half, from which Rebecca Hale received the ball to shoot from long range over the cross bar.
Steel City won a throw mid way in the Barnsley half down their left in the 53rd mins, the striker managed to turn Melissa Cole to get clear to shoot low across Georgia Wattam to score just inside the far post. 2-3 Barnsley.
This seemed to wake Barnsley up again because from the kick off Rebecca Hale played a long ball over the Steel city defence which Kathryn Smith chased down and took into the penalty area before shooting towards the top right hand corner which was superbly tipped wide by the Steel city goal keeper.
54th minute Rebecca Fevers played in Ellie Brightmore to shoot low towards the right hand post but the goal keeper saved.
63rd minute when Rebecca Fevers found herself in the right corner of Steel city half, she twisted and turned her defender before crossing for Ellie Brightmore to head home 2-4 Barnsley.
More changes for Barnsley with Alayna Millard returning for Ellie Brightmore, with Emily Ward moving from defence to right wing with Alayna dropping into defence at the side of Melissa Cole.
Steel City worked the ball down their left wing and Mellissa Cole under pressure managed to stretch a foot out to concede a corner, which was safely dealt with.
Then after 67th minutes Alayna Millard played out from the back into Emily Ward who played the ball into the path of Rebecca Hale, the Steel City goal keeper was quickly out of her area but she was put under pressure by Rebecca Hale to under hit her clearance and see it intercepted by Kathryn Smith only to recover to save Kathryn’s goal wards shot.
The Barnsley team were still working hard for each other with Anna Cairns working back to win the ball in defence from the Steel City striker, she coolly played the ball back to Georgia Wattam who picked out Alayna Millard breaking into midfield, she played out to Emily Ward on the left wing who played a one two with Rebecca Fevers before charging down the wing into the corner, playing it back to Rebecca Fevers to shoot from just inside the penalty area to slot home. 2-5 Barnsley.
As Steel City pressed forward in the 73rd minute Laura Windle managed to get a foot in to break up the attack and release Kathryn Smith, she dribbled around one defender before turning inside another before shooting towards the top right corner of the goal, only to see the goal keeper again to tip it wide.
77th minute Nikki Hogg picked out Rebecca Hale, she played it through to Kathryn Smith who chased it down into the box and shooting confidently for her hat-trick past the goal keepers right hand. 2-6 Barnsley.
Anna Cairns made way for Ellie Brightmore having run tirelessly in mid field, with Kathryn Smith moving into midfield with Ellie out on the left wing.
85 mins a long shot from Steel City midfield rattled back off the Barnsley cross bar, and the return shot was safely gathered above her head by Georgia Wattam.
Final goal ward action saw Rebecca Fevers try a long shot which although dipping quickly went just over the cross bar.
Final Score 2-6 to Barnsley FC ladies. Thank you Steel City Wanderer FC.

Next week the start of the WPL Northern Division 1 season with Barnsley FC Ladies away to Hull City Ladies, a tough start. 1st home match is the weekend after against Liverpool Marshalls Feds Ladies, hope the home crowd can help make Oakwell a difficult place for teams to come and win. Follow progress here or through FA-Fulltime look up FA Women’s Premier League Northern Division 1. Good luck Ladies do Barnsley proud.