Sunday 8th December 2024
FA Women’s National League Division One North
AFC Fylde Women’s final home game of 2024 ended in a 4-1 defeat to Barnsley FC Women on Sunday.
The Coasters were hoping to reverse their recent run of defeats when they welcomed Jess Horsley’s Reds to Kellamergh Park. Unfortunately, it proved to be a step too far for Fylde as the visitors scored three times without reply in a ruthless first-half display.
In the second period, the Coasters worked their way back into the contest and deservedly pulled a goal back with a quarter of an hour remaining. However, Barnsley soon added a fourth in the closing minutes to wrap up an impressive 4-1 win on the road.
In their penultimate fixture of the calendar year, the Coasters had to do without Ella Holt and Iszy Binks, who remained sidelined through injury, as well as Teal Dunion, who was suspended. Nicola James came into the starting eleven, while Natasha Dale made a welcome return on the bench. Lois Moore was also named among the substitutes for the second time since her return from injury.
On a blustery afternoon on the Fylde coast, the Reds won the toss and opted to play the first half with the wind behind them. From the outset, Barnsley applied a high press and penned the hosts inside their own half. Capitalising on a loose pass at the back, Jodie Gregory stole possession and fired into the bottom left corner to give the Reds an early lead in the fourth minute.
Gregory was in the thick of the action again when she worked another opening, but her effort was gathered by Fylde goalkeeper Skye Kirkham.
In the opening stages, the Coasters struggled to settle into their rhythm as they battled against the strong wind. On the quarter-hour mark, Katie Bowers Folan made a darting run down the flank, but her cross was cut out by the Barnsley backline.
Just before the half-hour mark, Barnsley doubled their tally directly from a free-kick taken near the corner flag. Lauryn Wilcock stepped up and flighted a cross that flew straight into the far corner, clipping the inside of the post on its way into the goal. It was a sensational strike that caught the defence off guard.
With half-time approaching, the Reds probed again but Millie Tindall made a superb defensive block to deny the forward a clear sight of goal. From the subsequent corner, Barnsley grabbed their third when Sharone Buckle met Freya Walton’s delivery with a towering header at the back post. As a result, the visitors held a commanding lead at the break.
Half-Time: AFC Fylde Women 0-3 Barnsley FC Women
The Coasters started the second half on the front foot and nearly grabbed a goal back, only to be denied by the underside of the crossbar within seconds of the restart. The rebound fell to Karri Chan inside the box, but she could not keep her shot down.
Fylde fashioned their next chance a few minutes later when Demi Devereaux fired on target, but Reds goalkeeper Becky Flaherty made a smart save. With the pressure building, the hosts were awarded a free-kick for a foul on Holly Kelsh-Ridge. Tindall whipped in a cross, but it just evaded the head of Nicola James at the back stick.
Driving forward once more, Devereaux was then brought down on the edge of the area. This time, Kelsh-Ridge took the resulting free-kick, but Flaherty did well to claim it under pressure. At the other end, Barnsley substitute Lissa Woodhouse exploited space down the wing and lofted in cross, but Kirkham did well to collect.
In the 75th minute, Bowers Folan played in Kelsh-Ridge, who unleashed a ferocious effort that seemed destined to burst the back of the net, but Flaherty made an acrobatic save to tip it over the bar.
Barely a minute later, the Coasters were finally rewarded with a goal when James met Devereaux’s low centre with a neat finish from close range. With momentum in their favour, Fylde looked to add to their goal tally as Natasha Dale and Imogen Borrowdale came on to bring fresh energy in attack.
However, the Reds instantly restored their three-goal cushion when Gregory harried the goalkeeper and dispossessed her, before slotting into the empty net for her second of the afternoon.
In the dying embers of the game, Fylde almost pulled another goal back when Moore saw her initial attempt parried by Flaherty, before Borrowdale was also denied on the follow-up.
Full-Time: AFC Fylde Women 1-4 Barnsley FC Women
AFC Fylde Women: Kirkham, Duffell, James, Rogers, Tindall, Hyland (80’ Borrowdale), Kelsh-Ridge, Chan (80’ Dale), Devereaux, Bowers Folan, Carabott (51’ Moore)
Barnsley FC Women: Flaherty, Rigby, Millard, Cheetham (56’ Biggins), Buckle, Wilcock (72’ Chincharo), Evans, Walton, Jex-Oldfield (85’ Turton-Burrell), Gregory, Woodhouse
Report by Scott Jones
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