Mother’s day and the sun was out as the teams warmed up on the Crofton WMC pitch that was showing the scars of many matches with sand making the ball bounce a little unpredictable, same for both teams of course. Wakefield FC Ladies in all Blue and Barnsley Ladies FC in their usual Red kit.
Barnsley kicked off and were quickly pressing forward winning a throw deep in the Wakefield half, after 3 mins, from which Holly Findlay held off the defender, playing the ball out to Brittany Sanderson to cross to Darcie Greene in the far side of the penalty box to shoot over the cross bar.
But it was Wakefield after 8 minutes who picked up the ball in midfield from a Barnsley goal kick, they attempted to lob Bryony Hudson who lost the ball in the sun, attempting to control it on her chest it bounced towards the on rushing Wakefield forward, Bryony was quick to recover, standing her ground to clear the ball away, but making contact with the forward which the Referee determined to be a push and awarded a penalty from which Wakefield’s Emma Catterall scored 1-0.
12 minutes gone and Brittany Sanderson threated a ball through the left channel which Darcie Greene reached but her shot was blocked in the area. Then the same combination after 14 mins resulted in a cross over to Holly Findlay at the back post and her shot was again blocked.
Then after 17 mins it was Darcie Greene and Holly Findlay who combined down the left to find Brittany Sanderson on the edge of the penalty area to shoot but the Goal keeper saved.
19 minutes gone and a quick free kick taken from midfield by Brittany Sanderson, released Emily Ward down the right, she drove into the penalty area but was stopped by a defender winning a corner that was easily dealt with.
Melissa Cole passed the ball up the left after 24 minutes to Holly Findlay, she linked up with Darcie Greene to cross to the far post where Emily Ward shot just wide of the right post.
Then after 25 minutes Bryony Hudson picked up the ball and quickly released her kick over the top of the three central Wakefield defenders, Holly Findlay gambled as the kick was taken to run onto the ball with only the goalkeeper to beat, which she did to score the equaliser. 1-1
From a Barnsley throw taken by Melissa Cole 27 mins in, Holly Findlay had her back to goal but managed to turn, make half a yard to send her shot goal wards, but it was caught easily by the goalkeeper.
29 mins gone and Emily Ward burst free down the right wing before pulling the ball back to the edge of the area from where Rebecca Fevers took a shot which flashed just wide of the right hand upright.
Brittany Sanderson threaded the ball through the Wakefield defence on 30 minutes for Holly Findlay to pick up and dribble around the out rushing keeper, there was contact but she managed to stay on her feel to get a soft shot away which was heading goal wards before being cleared away by a defender before it crossed the line.
With a view to the County Cup final two days later, Ian made changes with the front three of Emily Ward, Holly Findlay and Darcie Greene all replaced by Drew Greene, Kathryn Smith and Amy Woodruff. Amy & Kath quickly linking up with Brittany Sanderson a minute later to test the goalkeeper.
In a rare foray forward on 34 minutes Rebecca Wilson received the ball from Danielle Lowe on the edge of the Wakefield centre circle, trying a long range shot which just went past the left post. It was Danielle Lowe three minutes later who threaded a ball through for Amy Woodruff to chase after, but her intial touch was a little heavy and easily dealt with by the goal keeper.
Georgina Wilson managed to pick out Amy Woodruff with her clearance after 42 minutes, but as she shaped to shoot the ball bobbled up causing a miskick which was tamely caught by the goalkeeper. But from her clearance Rebecca Fevers pick out Kathryn Smith who took a right foot shot which flashed into the top right corner of the net. 1-2 Barnsley.
Half time and Laura Shepherd came on for Brittany Sanderson.
Kathryn Smith pressed and won a corner after just 2 minutes of the 2nd half from which Danielle Lowe and Rebecca Fevers linked up to play the ball into Laura Shepherd but her shot was caught by the goalkeeper.
55 minutes gone Amy Woodruff and Kathryn Smith played the ball between themselves, until it opened up for Amy to take the shot, from which she scored.1-3 Barnsley
Wakefield were far from beaten and in the 58th minute from a throw down the right, the ball was crossed straight through the Barnsley penalty area to be picked up by Abby Parkin and cleared to safety.
59 mins in and Drew Greene broke at speed down the right, she managed to cross into the penalty area for Amy Woodruff , but her shot went over the cross bar.
It was Amy Woodruff pressing to win a Barnsley throw high in the Wakefield half that was taken quickly after 61mins, she received the ball and crossed for Rebecca Fevers to smash the ball into the net, 1-4 Barnsley.
52 minutes saw Rebecca Wilson playing out from the back into Kathryn Smith, onto Amy Woodruff then back to Melissa Cole who slotted the ball into Laura Shepherd to see her shot blocked away for a throw which Abby Parkin took releasing Amy Woodruff to cross into Kathryn Smith who shot, hitting the crossbar and leaving it shaking.
Drew Greene drove down the right wing after 64 minutes, crossing the ball into Rebecca Fevers to score her second,1-5 Barnsley
More changes with Rebecca Wilson, Abby Parkin Rebecca Fevers and Danielle Lowe replaced by Darcie Greene, Emily Ward, Brittany Sanderson and Holly Findlay. With Melissa Cole moving to centre half with Georgina Wilson and Darcie & Emily coming in as wingbacks.
69 minutes and Melissa Cole played through to Holly Findlay, but her forward run was defended well, but Kathryn Smith picked up the resulting throw to cross into the box where Drew Greene forces a save out of the goal keeper,
73 mins Emily Ward played into Brittany Sanderson in midfield who played a one-two with Drew Greene to then dribble across the penalty area before dinking the ball over the goal keeper to make it 1-6 to Barnsley.
Holly Findlay and Brittany Sanderson linked up after 77 minutes working the ball from right to left as she beat 3 defenders to shoot just wide of the right hand post. Kathryn Smith was replaced by Rebecca Fevers.
80 mins gone and Emily Ward played Brittany Sanderson through, but she shot went wide. Then Emily Ward won the ball back in midfield, driving forward she played a square ball into Holly Findlay, but once again the shot went wide of the goal.
Then in the 87th minute Holly Findlay linked up with Drew Greene on the right, releasing Emily Ward to drive forward to cross over the goalkeeper but cleared by the defender to Melissa Cole, she made ground towards the left corner flag before pulling it back to Amy Woodruff to play in Holly Findlay shooting just wide.
Final minute of play saw Brittany Sanderson thread a ball through to Amy Woodruff but under pressure her shot went wide.

Final Score 1-6 to Barnsley Ladies, a lovely Mother’s Day result for the small contingent of Barnsley fans watching. Defence of their County cup in the final in two days vs last year’s beaten finalists Huddersfield Town ladies.