[BFC SITE] Reds held by AFC Fylde on opening day

Barnsley FC Women produced an organised performance on the Oakwell Showcase Pitch in order to claim a 2-2 draw in their first game in the FA Women’s National League Division 1 North, against a Fylde side relegated to the same tier at the end of last season.

The Reds had their first chance of the game in the 3rd minute, when Lauryn Wilcock produced a great run on the left flank, squaring the ball into the box, however, a last-ditch block prevented forward Jodie Gregory getting to it. The Reds also came close seven minutes later, when Wilcock again surged down the left, working into the area, and laying off for Ruby Jex-Oldfield. The midfielder then hit a speculative shot from just inside the eighteen-yard box, which was caught by the Fylde ‘keeper.

Barnsley continued to search for an opener as the half progressed. After 13 minutes, Gregory sent a cross into the box and the path of Louise Biggins, however, the Reds forward was shouldered off the ball by an opposition defender before she could strike cleanly, and a clearance saw the ball out of harm’s way.

With the Reds having such a positive start, it was perhaps expected that the opposition would rally back, and in the 17th minute, Barnsley ‘keeper, Becky Flaherty, turned hero, diving excellently to deny a near post shot by Fylde forward Lois Moore, sending the ball out from a corner kick. Fylde managed to head onto the end of the subsequent set piece, however, this effort was targeted well over the crossbar.

After 22 minutes, Barnsley had another fantastic chance to open the lead, when Betty Cheetham received the ball in space from twenty yards out. The wing-back then hit a great goalwards shot, which was deflected off target by a Fylde defender. The wing-backs continued to impress throughout the half, with both Cheetham and Wilcock dominating their respective flanks, and in the 30th minute, this almost paid dividends, when Wilcock worked her way into the area, wrong footing her marker and hitting a great shot which just trickled wide of the post and went out of play.

The Reds came close once after 35 minutes, when a Cheetham free-kick from 40 yards out was parried by the Fylde ‘stopper, and Charley Evans was unable to direct her follow up goalwards. The Reds were almost left to rue these opportunities four minutes later, when Fylde were able to beat the Reds’ defensive line, and it took a great challenge in the area from Melissa Turton-Burrell to deny Moore what would’ve been an excellent one-on-one opportunity.

This ensured that the Reds went into the break goalless, but with a strong performance which boded well for the second half.

HALF TIME: Barnsley FC Women 0-0 AFC Fylde Ladies

Despite a positive first half, the Reds did not get an initial chance in the second 45 until the 55th minute. Cheetham was once again able to get the better of her opposition marker, finding herself with only the goalkeeper to beat. However, she directed her shot narrowly wide of the post.

The Reds were not to be denied however, continuing to press well in the final third, and in the 58th minute, it paid. Midfielder Freya Walton picked up the ball following a defensive clearance, spotting the Fylde ‘keeper off her line, opting for a deft lob from 35 yards out which hit the back of the net, for Barnsley’s first of the afternoon, and their first goal in the FA Women’s National League.

With Barnsley having enjoyed such a great start to the half, it was possibly inevitable that Fylde would seek to gain some momentum back following the restart in play, and seven minutes later, they were able to get an equaliser, with Moore managing to beat Flaherty from 25 yards out, after a run into the Reds’ half from the halfway line.

The Reds rallied back well from this setback, with a multitude of chances as they entered the latter stages of the game. In the 68th minute, a defensive melee allowed Louise Biggins to take a shot outside the area which deflected into the path of Gregory. However, the Barnsley number 9 was unable to control her shot, and was dispossessed by her marker. Biggins was on hand five minutes later to pick up a Wilcock through ball in the area, hitting a shot from close-range which forced an excellent save from the opposition shotstopper.

With such a positive fightback, it was no surprise in the 83rd minute when Barnsley took the lead once more. Jex-Oldfield received the ball on the edge of the area, hitting a rocket of a first-time shot which landed comfortably in the bottom-right corner, to give the Reds’ a one-goal advantage with seven minutes left to play.

However, the visitors found a fightback of their own a minute later, and managed to level the scoring. A free-kick from 35 yards out was crossed into the box, with the defender, Tindall managing to break free of her marker, and hitting a shot past Flaherty.

The Reds continued to search for a winner in the closing minutes, coming closest a minute into stoppage time, when the Fylde ‘keeper was forced to dive on her line to deny Louisa Barraclough direct from a corner kick. However, they were not able to find a third goal, and went away from the opening game with a solitary point, having produced an outing which provides plenty of positives going into next week’s away trip to Durham Cestria.

FULL TIME: Barnsley FC Women 2-2 AFC Fylde Ladies

Barnsley: Flaherty, Turton-Burrell, Rigby, Millard, Cheetham, Wilcock, Evans, Walton, Jex-Oldfield, Gregory, Biggins.

Subs: Ridsdel-Harrison, Barraclough, Chincharo, Brown, Ayrton, Fevers

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