Anticipation was high for this FA Women’s National League Cup First Round Proper fixture against Sunderland AFC Ladies. It was also a meeting of Septembers Managers of the Month in the Northern Divisions with Chris Hamilton up against Mel Reay.
Our Mascots today came from Wombwell Main Girls U9 & 11's teams.
Barnsley Women playing in their home Red got the game under way in damp drizzle against Northern premier League leaders Sunderland in Blue.
7' A Sunderland corner is recycled before Bethan Davies claims.
13' No real chances of note for either side so far. Sophie Bell tries to thread Kathryn Smith through, but it’s just away from her.
16' Play halted as Sophie Crosby takes a ball square in the face from close range. She’s up and play continues.
18' Half chance for the Reds as a Sophie Crosby corner from the left is over the keeper. Jade Butcher is there, but her effort is blocked away.
23' Couple of good chances for the Reds. First, Sophie Bell heads at the back post and is saved by the keeper. Then a Reds’ free kick from the edge of the box was over from Sophie Crosby sees Sophie Bell go close, but it is saved away for a corner.
27' Lovely decision-making from Rebecca Hornsey. Her turn takes two Sunderland defenders out of the game, before splitting the centre halves with a lovely ball to Lissa Woodhouse. The keeper scrambles quickly and collects down low.
31' Corner to Sunderland... comes to nothing.
39' Good period of sustained pressure from the Reds. Lissa Woodhouse catches the keeper off her line and has a go from distance, but Claudia Moan recovers well.
40' Mollie Lambert is the first in the referee’s book this afternoon after a foul on Kathryn Smith following a previous warning from the referee.
44' Lissa Woodhouse is played through and drives forward, but the defender recovers well.
45' After making an absolute worldy save to deny Georgia Gibson the opener, Bethan Davies can’t keep our the resulting corner. It’s whipped in from the left, over Bethan Davis and sneaks in at the back post from Kiera Ramshaw. 0-1 Sunderland
Half-time: Both teams had plenty of the ball in the opening 45, but a late goal separates the two teams.
At Half-Time Our Mascots for the day from Wombell Main U9 & 11's entertain the spectators
The second half kick off was delayed after a medical issue for one of the Sunderland squad. We wish the player concerned all the best.
46' Sunderland Substitution with Charlotte Potts coming on for Courtney Stewart.
47' Sunderland get the first chance of the second half. Their number 2 hits it on the half volley from the edge of the box but Bethan Davies matches it to make the save.
55' The Reds make their first change as Lindsey Tugby replaces Kathryn Smith.
60' Sophie Crosby takes a freekick from 25 yards out that has the keeper scrambling across her goal.
65' Bethan Davies makes a brilliant save as she tips over a volley from the Sunderland forward Bridget Galloway.
68' Sunderland 2 Neve Herron comes off and is replaced by Sunderland 11 Jessica Brown.
71' Another change for the Reds as Amy Woodruff replaces Lissa Woodhouse
78' Amy Woodruff almost gets on the end of Drew Greene's flick on but the Sunderland defender just gets a toe on it to turn it behind for a corner.
79' Rebecca Hornsey meets the corner at the back post but her header is just wide.
90' The Reds create a great chance to equalise. It was some excellent football down the right and a good ball in to the area falls to Lindsey Tugby whose effort is a little scuffed and saved.
Full Time The Reds suffered their first loss of the season after a tightly contested game 0-1, but can leave the game heads held high as they went Toe to Toe with higher league competition and just succumbed to a set piece.
Player of the Match was .... Rebecca Hornsey
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Hear the views of Manager Chris here
And remind yourself of this performance with a selection of match photos