For their first FA Women’s Premier League home game, Barnsley FC Ladies and Liverpool Marshall Feds Ladies (LMFL) were led out with Mascots from Barnsley Ladies Juniors U9 on a sunny day at Oakwell.

It was Barnsley who got the game underway, but it was LMFL who mounted the first attack in the 2nd minute with a cross field pass releasing their left winger to drive into the penalty area and shoot, well saved by Georgia Wattam pushing it out to the left. Turning defence into attack Demi Pringle picked up the ball in midfield, releasing Holly Findlay down the left wing to cross which had the LMFL keeper at full stretch to concede a corner as it drifted towards her net.
A scuffed clearance by the LMFL keeper after 7 mins nearly let Demi Pringle in, but the defence closed her down quickly and under pressure she was unable to get the ball out of her feet and goal wards.
14 mins a LMFL corner caused a scramble in the goal area until Darcie Greene cleared the ball from the goal line and as the ball came back in LMFL front line were caught off side.
Kristie Ward played a long ball over the top after 15 mins into Demi Pringle, she turned and played into Drew Greene, who took on 2 defenders into the penalty area before slipping the ball back to Demi to cross across goal unfortunately out of reach of Amy Woodruff and Holly Findlay.
16th minute Georgia Wattam played out to Abby Parkin, she squared to Lucy Turner then into the feet of Drew Greene, back to Abby as she looped down the right wing and crossed into Amy Woodruff who shot straight at the LMFL goal keeper.
24 mins Danielle Lowe threaded a pass through the LMFL defence for Amy Woodruff to chase down, one on one with the keeper she shot to her left but she saved it.
26 mins Amy Woodruff slid the ball into the path of Holly Findlay but a last gasp tackle took the power off her shot and it dribbled into the hands of the Keeper.
Demi Pringle showed quick feet on 27 mins to evade 3 defenders outside the penalty area before playing a one-two with Amy Woodruff receiving the ball back to be fouled, penalty awarded which Demi took herself beating the keeper down her right. 1-0 Barnsley.
At the other end Georgia Wattam took a goal kick which didn’t clear the Liverpool midfield from where they launched an attack ending in a strong shot which Georgia made amends by a diving save to push it out for a corner passed her right post. The corner came in, Georgia managed to reach it high with a fumble that she reacted first to bravely diving to secure at the feet of the Liverpool attacker.
43 mins Georgia Wattam kicked out to the centre line which was headed forward by Drew Greene into the path of Demi Pringle. She slid the ball out left to Holly Findlay, who unselfishly, drew the defence towards her before squaring central to Amy Woodruff who shot and scored bottom right. 2-0 Barnsley.
Half time entertainment was provided by the U9’s game whilst players recovered out of the heat.
Second half underway with no changes and then after 51 mins Rebecca Fevers released Drew Greene who drove towards goal to shoot but the keeper saved and started a counter attack which resulted in Nicole Johnston breaking through centrally, One on one with Georgia Wattam she calmly slotted the ball into the Barnsley goal just inside the right hand post. 2-1 Barnsley
LMFL were more determined now, building pressure on Barnsley. When Georgia Wattam cleared down the right, LMFL picked up and crossed it back in, quick reaction by Lucy Turner closed down the attacker who scuffed her shot gratefully gathered by Georgia.
A strong challenge after 60 mins by Kristie Ward resulted in a Liverpool free-kick 40 yards out, which they took short before swinging in the cross towards the back post which Barnsley dealt with clearing out of the penalty area. It fell to the feet of Chantelle Thompson the LMFL No5 who hit a strong shot into the top right corner of the goal. 2-2 all square.
61 mins Liverpool attacked down their right wing and crossed high to the back post, Georgia Wattam came out but jumped under the cross colliding with Abbie Parkin to leave Roisin Havelin to head LMFL into a 2-3 lead.
69 minutes Amy Woodruff conceded a free kick in the midfield which LMFL swung in deep where it was headed downwards, a tricky bounce that Georgia Wattam was alert to having to stretch to tip over the crossbar.
In the 71st minute it was time for changes with Danielle Lowe, Rebecca Fevers and Demi Pringle making way for Melissa Cole, Laura Shepherd and Laura Windall. A bit of a positional reshuffle with Abby Parkin going into midfield, Darcie Greene to left wing and Holly Findlay into the central attack.
Laura Windall went into a 50-50 challenge and ended up losing her boot. She then picked up a caution for leaving the field without Referee’s permission when she went off to put it back on.
80 minutes onwards Barnsley started to rebuild pressure back on LMFL, with Darcie & Drew Greene linking up but unable to get a shot goal wards, so they switched play and won a corner, which Abby Parkin hit into the danger area, only for LMFL to be awarded a free kick for pushing in the area which left the keeper needing treatment.
86 mins Barnsley broke with Abby Parkin releasing Drew Greene down the wing, she played square to Holly Findlay to shoot just wide of the right hand post.
A 2nd caution after 90 mins saw LMFL reduced to 10 players. Then Abby Parkin won the ball in midfield, played back to Melissa Cole, into Holly Findlay then through to Drew Greene whose 95th min shot was saved by the goal keeper.
Final action in the 97th min saw Darcie and Drew Greene link up again down the left, setting Darcie up with a shot which again the goal keeper safely gathered.
Final Score 2-3, an end to end match in the bank holiday heat, which could have finished a draw and spectators would have seen that fair, but well done to Liverpool Marshall Feds Ladies for coming out so determined after half-time to recover, go ahead and then protect that lead.