A dominant Barnsley side delivered derby day heaven, as they stormed to a 4-0 away victory at Wakefield.
Braces for both Kirstie Nicholls and Jodie Gregory helped Jess Horsley's side to an impressive victory on the road this afternoon.
The Reds had a chance to break the deadlock in the opening minutes, when a speculative pass from Victoria Chincharo outside the box just whistled past forward Gregory and was collected by the Wakefield ‘keeper.
Five minutes later, a pass from the left flank by Kim Brown found Gregory, then laying it off to Chincharo, who was unable to get under the shot and saw her effort collected.
The Reds’ early dominance was clear for all to see, and it paid off in the ninth minute. Gregory managed to get through on goal via a Brown pass, only to find her shot stopped by the Wakefield goalkeeper coming off her line, but the parry found its way into the path of Gregory’s strike partner, Nicholls, who hammered home just outside the box to give Barnsley an early lead.
Just a minute, the Reds had the chance to make it two. A run down the left hand side from Gregory saw Madison Foye available in the box, however her effort was caught by the Wakefield ‘keeper.
Eight minutes later, a Chincharo free kick fell into the path of Nic Shaw at a tight angle, leaving her with few options and seeing her effort head over the bar.
In the 21st minute, Gregory was sent through on goal via a Chincharo flick-on, however her one-versus-one effort was dealt with by another save from the very busy Wakefield shotstopper.
With Barnsley clearly displaying they were the superior outfit in the first half, it was only a matter of time before they extended their lead. And it was Nicholls who again popped up, slotting home from 12 yards out with a cool, secure finish that easily beat the Wakefield ‘keeper.
Five minutes later, Gregory was denied the chance to make it three when her cool finish from twelve yards out was deemed to be offside.
A dominant first half performance saw the Reds go into the break two goals to the good.
HALF TIME: Wakefield AFC 0-2 Barnsley FCW
As the Reds entered the second half, they picked up exactly where they had left off, adding a third goal to their tally for the afternoon. Gregory’s initial shot from a corner kick was headed away by a Wakefield defender, but the striker immediately responded with a rocket of a volley to get her first goal of the afternoon.
The Reds had a multitude of chances following their third of the afternoon, as they looked to be in prime position to add a fourth. In the 61st minute, a speculative effort by Chincharo from 25 yards out glided over the bar. Three minutes later, only a spectacular save from Wakefield's 'keeper denied Gregory’s long range effort. And in the 67th minute, it was captain Charley Evans who turned forward with a pinpoint shot which forced another save.
It seemed that it was going to take something special to get the Reds a fourth, and it was Gregory who produced it, bursting forward with a run into the eighteen yard box from just inside the Wakefield half, and burrowing in with a shot from close range to make it quadruple heaven for the Reds.
The Reds had an additional chance to make it five with six minutes to spare, but Kim Brown’s powerful shot just inside the box was aimed just wide, ensuring that the score line remained at four in a brilliant afternoon for Barnsley.
FULL TIME: Wakefield AFC 0-4 Barnsley FCW
Ridsdel-Harrison, Evans, Rigby, Wilson-Roberts, Shaw, Brown, Chincharo, Turton-Burrell, Gregory, Nicholls
Subs: Horsley, Barraclough, Holland, Kelly, Wilson
