EMILY SENIOR was in awe of goalkeeper Becky Sidwell’s performance after a 1-1 draw against Barnsley Women.
After Grace Sykes had fires York City Ladies in front against their South Yorkshire opponents, Sidwell did brilliantly to keep the Minsterbelles’ hopes of a vital win alive before an outstanding finish from Alayna Millard drew Barnsley level.
The added point on the board sees York move out of the FA Women’s National League Division One North relegation zone, leapfrogging Doncaster Rovers Belles into tenth.
Senior admitted that it was a point gained rather than two points dropped, telling club media: “I think the initial feeling was that we have dropped two points there and that we could’ve taken the game.
“But on reflection, and I’ve had even longer to reflect, Barnsley definitely had the better chances.
“We’ve had key moments, the penalty, where we have not taken the game, the crossbar at the end.
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“We’ve had to make some incredible saves at the other end, Becky Sidwell was absolutely outstanding today and has really kept us in it.
“We look at it both ways, if I’m honest I’m probably edging more towards it being a point gained because we could have quite easily lost it at lots of moments there.
“Credit to them, they did keep digging deep and had their moments in the last five minutes, I’m sure it was a great watch for the neutral, because it did feel a bit end-to-end and crazy in that second-half.”
Barnsley started the faster of the two sides as Louise Biggins struck a free-kick from 20-yards against the crossbar, before Sidwell pushed an effort wide from a corner.
Sykes then had a strike sail over the crossbar, before the deadlock was broken by the Minsterbelles in the 27th minute.
A dangerous cross from Milly Ash was parried away by Barnsley goalkeeper Nyla Peterkin into the path of Sykes, who made no mistake with a clinical finish into the roof of the net.
Jodie Gregory was then denied again by Sidwell, before Barnsley were left dumbfounded as Lissa Woodhouse was thwarted by the City shot-stopper, who then recovered to keep out Millard on the rebound.
The second-half promised similar action, as Woodhouse flicked Millard’s cross over the bar, whilst Sharone Buckle had a strike parried away by Sidwell.
With 64 minutes played, Barnsley came within inches again, as Lauryn Wilcock free-kick was again pushed out by Sidwell, into the path of Elsie Evans, whose rebound was cleared off of the line.
But after relentless pressure, York were finally undone by an impressive finish by Millard.
York did not back down after conceding, and responded as a foul on Katie Astle within the Barnsley box forced the referee to point to the spot after the striker had broken through on goal.
But to City’s dismay, Astle’s resulting spot kick was saved by Peterkin.
She almost made up for her unfortunate error in stoppage-time too, after a header rattled the Tykes’ crossbar before being scrambled clear.
YORK CITY LADIES: Sidwell, Trickett, Cattle, Smith, Ramsden (Shaw, 78), Underdown, Hayhurst (Hendrickson-Eastwood, 72), Ash, Sykes, Astle
Subs not used: Todman, Lendhill, Brierley
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