WCWFC 2-5 Barnsley Women

Barnsley Women defeat City at Sixways Stadium on Remembrance Sunday.

City came into the match with confidence, aiming to build on last week's FA Cup victory. They started brightly, registering the game’s first shot on target within the opening minute as Highway took a low strike from inside the box, but Clarke gathered it comfortably.

Despite a few early chances for City, including a long-range attempt from Marriott, Barnsley began to assert control. In the 23rd minute, a well-executed move allowed Snelson to break free, going one-on-one with Fassnidge and slotting the ball home to open the scoring.

Barnsley doubled their lead in the 36th minute with a moment of individual brilliance from Bartup, who wove through City’s defence and buried a shot into the bottom right corner. 

Just before the break, Barnsley struck again as Snelson, unmarked in the box, headed in a cross to notch her second goal of the match, leaving City trailing by three at half-time.

Facing an uphill battle, City introduced three game-changers in Bate, Ritson, and Bellamy for Robinson, Crew, and Griffiths, hoping to spark a comeback.

Yet it was Barnsley who struck again in the 56th minute, capitalising on a long-range free-kick that created chaos in the box. Fassnidge managed to parry the initial shot, but Marshall seized the rebound, blasting it into the roof of the net from close range.

City narrowed the gap in the 72nd minute when Highway’s powerful shot from distance beat Clarke, who managed to get a hand to it but couldn’t keep it out. Just minutes later, Highway struck again with a superb free-kick from the left, curling it past the keeper to make it two for City.

However, City struggled to sustain the pressure, as the match became increasingly fragmented. In the final moments, Barnsley added a fifth after a City set-piece turned into a Barnsley counterattack. Richardson broke free and calmly slotted the ball home, sealing Barnsley’s win.