[BFC SITE] Reds gain vital point at Durham

Barnsley FC Women put in an incredibly strong performance on the road at Durham Cestria, and were unfortunate to only return back to South Yorkshire with a point, with a fantastic solo effort from Kim Brown amongst the highlights in a 1-1 draw.

It was Durham Cestria who gained a one-goal advantage after just three minutes, with the home side managing to gain possession on the left flank, hitting a cross into the box, which forward Anna Soulsby managed to see past Reds’ keeper, Becky Flaherty.

However, the Reds remained resolute, and a minute later, they levelled the scoring. Picking up the ball on the edge of the area, midfielder Brown hit an excellent curling shot which comfortably beat the Durham Cestria ‘stopper, to provide her with her first goal of the season.

The home side attempted to rally back from this equaliser, and employed a high press which the Barnsley defensive line was able to hold off expertly, preventing any significant goalscoring opportunities for the remainder of the opening ten minutes. And this paid dividends for Barnsley, who continued to grow into the game and displayed real attacking intent as the half progressed. They first came close in the 13th minute, when Jodie Gregory’s 25-yard free kick was hit underneath the opposition wall, forcing a parry from Durham Cestria goalkeeper, Brooke MacKain.

Barnsley came close to a second goal from a free-kick once more in the 19th minute, with forward Lauryn Wilcock taking an excellent set-piece to the left of the box from twenty-five yards out which the Durham Cestria goalkeeper came down to collect in the centre of her goal.

However, the home side were not to be counted out either, and in the 26th minute, it took an excellent block from Melissa Turton-Burrell to deny the Durham Cestria forward line a second goal amidst an attacking melee in the eighteen-yard box.

Barnsley FC Women had another great chance after 34 minutes, when Louise Biggins managed to break free of the Durham Cestria defence after a fantastic ball from Ruby Jex-Oldfield, to find herself one-on-one with the Durham Cestria ‘keeper. The Reds forward was only denied what would’ve been an excellent goal by the quick reflexes of MacKain, who managed to get a finger to the shot, allowing an opposition defender to get to the ball and clear it out of harm’s way, ensuring that the Reds went into half time even, but with plenty of positives to take into the second half.

HALF TIME: Durham Cestria 1-1 Barnsley FC Women

The home side started the second half strongly, and came close to scoring a second goal five minutes after the restart, with a close-range shot by the forward, Hutchinson, being cleared off the line by Turton-Burrell, following an opposition free-kick.

Barnsley FC Women were not perturbed by this start to the half, however, and in the 54th minute, Jex-Oldfield came close to putting the Reds in front, with a powerful long-range effort which tested the opposition stopper from thirty yards out. They came close again nine minutes later, when Alayna Millard picked up the ball in space on the left flank and hit a sterling looping effort which was just aimed over the bar.

The Reds continued to look positive as we entered the latter stages of the game, with substitute Madison Foye almost providing a breakthrough after 69 minutes, with a curling free kick which was collected by MacKain in the Durham Cestria net. Reds’ keeper, Flaherty, then turned hero a minute later, when she dived excellently to deny a shot from Rachel Bell from eighteen yards out.

As the game entered its latter stages, Barnsley continued to push for the breakthrough, and with ten minutes to play, they thought they had found it when Charley Evans’ free kick from 35 yards out lobbed over the Durham Cestria ‘keeper, into the back of the net. However, the referee adjudged that the indirect free kick had not touched any other player en route to the net, and what would’ve been a late winner was ruled out.

The Reds had another great chance in the 85th minute, when Wilcock managed to find space in the box following a lay off from Millard, with only the ‘keeper to beat. However, the Reds forward opened her body up for the shot, and that gave the opposition stopper enough time to ready herself and make the save. Durham Cestria also continued to press in the closing moments, with the Reds’ defensive line remaining resolute and being marshalled outstandingly to prevent any incoming efforts from getting through.

However, neither side was able to find that elusive second goal, and as such, the Reds took a solitary point back to S71, remaining unbeaten so far this season in the FA Women’s National League Division 1 North.

FULL TIME: Durham Cestria 1-1 Barnsley FC Women

XI: Flaherty, Evans (C), Brown, Gregory (Locke, 60 – later replaced by Chincharo, 63), Wilcock, Cheetham, Jex-Oldfield, Walton, Millard (Barraclough, 85), Turton-Burrell Biggins (Foye, 45)

Subs not used: Ridsdel-Harrison, Ayrton

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