Barnsley FC Ladies kept their winning streak going with a 4-3 victory away from home against Norton & Stockton Ancients Ladies.
Despite their recent good form, the Reds found themselves behind with less than five minutes on the clock. A nicely-weighted through ball allowed Maddy Atkinson to prod past the onrushing Skye Kirkham.
Barnsley replied immediately, and with some authority. Neat interplay between Kath Smith and Becks Hornsey resulted in the latter hitting one from 20 yards that flew past the helpless Norton keeper.
In a game of few chances, Norton then found themselves ahead again after Bianca Owens rose highest at the back post and headed home from a corner from their right.
However, Barnsley soon responded. Like so many occasions this season, Sophie Bell turned provider and whipped a perfect ball in from the right. Lissa Woodhouse was on the other end of it and stuck her pin-point header away in the corner.
Sophie Crosby then put the Reds in front for the first time in the game. A free kick down the right from a tight angle left her with a slight open door to have a go herself, and she duly did. Crosby whipped her corner to the far post and out of reach of the Norton keeper.
Norton weren’t done yet though. A dubious free kick from around 20 yards out was taken advantage of by Courtney Corrie who smashed past the helpless Kirkham.
But there was still to be a late show from the Reds. Kath Smith danced her way through three challenges before being brought down in the 18-yard box. She made sure the three points were going back down to South Yorkshire by sticking her shot in the corner of the goal.
Reds Assistant Manager Andy Glossop said: “Pleased to get the win, and I think overall we just about edged it. We had really good spells in the second half and we got the goals to snatch the win.
“I think in the first half we got a bit rattled and lost our focus on the game, but we knew that if we played our football, we’d get a result.”
