Chester le Street Town Ladies were forced to play their home league game against Barnsley at the newly built Washington Football Hub. This was due to Moor Park succumbing to the recent bad weather which made the pitch waterlogged.

Barnsley currently sit top of the league and are unbeaten so the Cestrians knew that this would be a difficult game. However, after their recent FA Cup performances hopes were high.

Within the first 5 minutes Barnsley had a couple of corners which Chester dealt with; one of which resulted in Chester counter attacking with Nichole Havery playing the ball through to Kacie Elson, who ended up being one on one with Barnsley’s keeper. Her eventual shot was saved by the Barnsley goalie.

A few minutes later and Barnsley had a shot of their own but they were denied by Steph Jones in the Cestrian goal.

On 14 minutes Sarah Burn played a great through ball for Laura Hockaday who got through on goal, she took a shot with her left foot but it just went narrowly wide of the goal.

Kacie Elson was making some threatening runs down the left wing, in a similar fashion to that of last Sunday against Durham Cestria. She would often win battles to gain possession and get further upfield.

On one of her early runs Elson passed the ball to Hockaday who then squared it to Nichole Havery, Havery takes the shot at goal but the ball hits the crossbar.

22 minutes and the ball was played forward, the Barnsley keeper dived to save it but she couldn’t get hold of the ball. In the meantime Havery who was coming in to get the loose ball was tripped by the keeper. The referee allowed play to continue as Chester had the ball, but as soon as possession was lost he blew for a penalty.

There were objections from the opposition bench but the penalty was fairly awarded.

Havery stepped up to take the penalty, she had only missed once from the spot in recent games, this time normal service was resumed, 1-0 to Chester le Street.

Barnsley were awarded a free kick about 25 yards from goal, the ball was kicked straight into the box and Steph Jones was able to punch it clear.
Just prior to half time Laura Hockaday and Kacie Elson again link up which ended with Hockaday putting a good cross into the box. Nichole Havery manages to get her head to it but the ball just goes wide of the goal.

The first half was end to end action, as soon as one team had lost the ball in an attacking position the opposition would transition into a counter attack. Chester le Street certainly did this on several occasions and could have had more goals than just the one. Going into the break Chester le Street lead 1-0.

Chester le Street make a half time substitution as team captain Anna Collin makes a return to the team after recovery from a knee injury.
5 minutes into the second half and Anna Collin receives a yellow card for a reckless challenge.

Barnsley attempt an attack down the left wing but Brogan Prudhoe read the attempt and was able to stop it.

On the hour and Nichole Havery lobs a shot from about 20 yards out, if it had gone in the back of the goal it would have been a superb finish but it just went over the cross bar.

68 minutes and Barnsley grab an equaliser as Laura Bartrup collects the ball on her left turns, takes a few steps then strikes the ball from nearly 30 yards out, take a bow.

This seemed to be the start of Bartrup coming alive as she was very quiet during the first half but after her goal she kept finding further opportunities to shoot.

88 minutes and Bartrup grabs her second goal.
There were a few minutes added time which Chester tried to grab a late goal but it just wasn’t to be.