BARNSLEY Ladies FC are closing in on their league title after extending their unbeaten run to 15 games with 14 wins.
The Reds won 8-0 at Ripon City on Sunday in the North East Regional League Southern Division.
Lynn Goodman and Jodie Gregory scored hat-tricks with Louisa Barraclough and Nicole Shaw also on target. They are six points clear at the top with 43 points from 16 games and have six remaining starting with a visit to Farsley Celtic on Sunday.
Fourth-placed Altofts could go level on points with Barnsley if they win their five games in hand.
Coach Jess Horsley said: “Another solid performance from the girls.
“We all know how hard it can be playing the teams at the lower end of the division and, credit to Ripon, they made it really difficult for us to play and I thought their ‘keeper had a superb game.
“But, credit to our girls, they kept going and managed to get a few late goals when Ripon tired.
“We’ve six games left and we are still in the same position, all we can do is keep winning.”
Meanwhile, Penistone Church won 4-3 at Sheffield United Community Development in the Sheffield and Hallamshire League Shield.
Barnsley Women’s FC are due to face Hull City twice next week in National League Division One North.
The Wombwell-based club, who have not played for two weeks, are third and 11 points behind leaders Durham Cestria with two games in hand.
There is only one promotion place.
Barnsley have six games left this season starting with a home match against Hull on Sunday at their Station Road ground before they visit the same opponents on Thursday.
