It was a warm Wednesday evening as the two teams took to the Sheerien Park pitch, home of Athersley Recreation FC but tonight home to Barnsley FC and Brighouse Town Ladies.

Barnsley FC Ladies started brightly but Brighouse Town defended well and it wasn’t until 7th minute when Drew Greene found herself in space on edge of penalty area to shoot just over the cross bar.
Then Brighouse Town started to find gaps breaking forward down both wings, from one 9 minutes in by Hannah Poulter, her central ball found Aimi Beresford to shoot and score into top right corner of the net from 14 yards, 0-1.
Brighouse were awarded a free kick 30 yards out on the left wing after a strong defensive tackle by Barnsley. It was hit by Emma Dobson high into the Barnsley penalty area, where Georgia Wattam jumped up to catch, misjudging the flight of the ball in the flood lights despite getting gloves to it, she dropped the ball which trickled into the goal, 0-2.
14 mins gone Drew Greene broke down the right wing, she turned the defender and played a square ball into Holly Findlay, who under pressure hit the shot first time just wide of the right hand post.
18 mins Brighouse midfielder hit a shot from 25 yards out that flew over the despairing dive of Georgia Wattam, it cannoned down off the cross bar and bounced out, with the Assistant Referee keeping his position clearly indicating that the ball had not crossed the line.
28 mins Lucy Turner thwarted a Brighouse centre forward attack with a clean tackle just on the edge of the Barnsley area
32nd minute Drew Greene was played through the centre by a weighted pass from Danielle Lowe, she twisted and turned before threading the ball into the right wing channel from where Holly Findlay crossed into the penalty area where it was miskicked by the Brighouse centre back falling into the path of Darcie Greene but the goal keeper was out quickly to dive on the ball before she reached it. Then Brighouse went up the other end and won a free-kick from a tackle by Laura Windle, the free kick was heading goal ward which Georgia Wattam managed to save.
36 mins Drew Greene raced free down the right wing before crossing into the penalty area before any Barnsley player could get there. One minute later, Rebecca Fevers switched play from right midfield into the left wing channel from where Darcie Greene was able shoot but it was saved by the goal keeper.
40 mins Brighouse scored from a thunderous unchallenged header from a flicked on corner ball, 0-3.
41 mins another perfectly time tackle by Lucy Turner, saw her advance forward with the ball and play into Drew Greene who drove into the penalty area to shoot only to see it saved by the keeper.
Half-time 0-3 Brighouse Town Ladies. Changes for Barnsley at the break with Nikki Hogg and Anna Cairns for Danielle Lowe and Holly Findlay.
51 min Brighouse shoot just wide from a tight angle, a warning for Barnsley to keep concentrated.
52 min Abby Parkin cleared out from edge of penalty area into Laura Windle on the right wing, playing centrally into Rebecca Fevers she threaded a ball into the left wing channel which Darcie Greene reached to shoot wide.
57 min Brighouse no9 broke down the right wing, Georgina Wilson pressured but still Brighouse managed to cross towards the back of the goal area from where it was headed back in centrally and then shot just over the bar from 8 yards out.
67 min Amy Woodruff came on for Georgina Wilson, with Darcie Greene moving to left back.
68 min Nikki Hogg won the ball just inside the Brighouse half, she played forward to Rebecca Fevers who drove towards the penalty area, she shot but it was blocked, retrieving the rebound she tried a cross only for that to be blocked too. Brighouse were pressing quickly and Barnsley were having to think quickly to evade resulting in few chances to progress forward.
70 min Kirstie Ward, intercepted at edge of Barnsley penalty area to find Anna Cairns unmarked for a moment, she was able to release Amy Woodruff but the Brighouse cover came over to put the ball out for a throw.
71 mins Brighouse a free kick from the left wing was met by the head of Brighouse no8, Georgina Wattam crabbing along her line was well placed to save on the line.
72 mins and another Brighouse free kick from a similar area, again headed goal wards and this time off the base of the post.
73rd minute a Brighouse clearance ball was headed backwards towards Georgina Wattam by Kristie Ward but it nearly fell short and Georgina had to be out quick to dive bravely at the feel of the Brighouse no9 who was quickly on to it.
80 min Brighouse broke down the left wing, but Lucy Turner came across to tackle, the ball fell to Brighouse player to cross but a covering header by Darcie Greene cleared the danger.
83rd min Darcie Greene played into the feet of her sister Drew Greene, she turned and drove towards the penalty area, dummying the shot she squared to Nikki Hogg who shot just wide of the right hand post.
89 mins gone and Rebecca Fevers played in Amy Woodruff centrally, she turned and shot at the same time but it went over the cross bar.
93rd min Nikki Hogg played in Drew Greene in the left wing channel, she found a pass to Amy who for once had a good sight of goal but her shot went straight to the hands of the Brighouse Town Keeper.
Full-Time Barnsley FC Ladies 0 Brighouse Town Ladies 3. A more resolute 2nd half performance for Barnsley, with good tackles made not allowing Brighouse to hurt as much on the break, but also not many chances made at the other end. Player of the match named by opposition was Rebecca Fevers.
Next match back at Oakwell on Sunday 24th September for the visit of Bolton Wanderers ladies who sit just behind Barnsley in 8th in the FA WPL Northern Division 1 table