BARNSLEY FC women recorded back-to-back wins with a 1-0 home success over Harrogate and will now make history in the FA Cup this weekend.
Victoria Chincharo’s first half header secured the win.
The Reds are now sixth with six points from three games in the North East Premier League, which they are hoping to win this season and get a second successive promotion.
Manager Jess Horsley said: “The girls are getting into a rhythm.
“They are spending a lot of time around each other, getting used to a new formation. It is coming together a lot better.
“The league is a lot more competitive than we expected.
“Anyone can beat anyone.
“It’s really hard to get out of any women’s league from tier six to tier three because only one team gets promoted.
“The competition at the top is always high.
“Winning two out of the first three is really positive and I would have taken that before the season started.”
On the Harrogate game, Horsley said: “We’re really happy with the result.
“It wasn’t the strongest performance, compared to the week before.
“We were a little bit disappointed.
“We had 16 shots on target so we should have got more goals but we got the three points which is the most important thing.
“They did put pressure on us in the second half, hitting the crossbar then the post so you could say we were lucky.
“They had drawn with Alnwick, who beat us, so we knew it would be tough.”
Barnsley now host Ossett United in the FA Cup on Sunday from 2.30pm on the Oakwell astroturf pitch.
“It’s the first FA Cup game since we transitioned into the Barnsley FC umbrella. We didn’t enter it last year so it will be good to be in it this time.
“Ossett are in the league below and we played them twice last season. We know a lot about them.”
The women’s team are enjoying sharing the facilities with the men at Oakwell this season.
Horsley said: “It’s fantastic. The girls are going to every men’s home game.
“The men’s players have been really good with the girls as well.
“Training three times a week and having extra staff has seen a massive improvement.
“The strength and conditioning coach and match analyst have made a massive difference.
“No club in our tier in this country will be getting that.
“Hopefully it can attract more girls because that is what we need to progress and go up the leagues.”
Measnwhile, Barnsley Women’s FC dropped their first points of the season as they were held to a 0-0 draw with Middlesbrough at Houghton Main.
The Reds are top on goal difference with 13 points from five games in the National League Division One North.
They now host Solihull Moors in the League Cup on Sunday at Houghton Main. They play the majority of fixtures at the Olympic Legacy Park in Sheffield but moved their games this week as rugby league side Sheffield Eagles had a televised match on Sunday.
Pogmoor won 9-1 at Wombwell Town in Division Four of the Sheffield Hallamshire League. Sheldon Hirst scored four, Courtney Kaye bagged a brace with Laura Brown and Ali Burford on target. Pogmoor are due to host another Barnsley team on Sunday in Mind Over Matter.
Penistone Church drew 0-0 at home to Rossington Main in Division One.
They visit Middlewood Rovers on Sunday.
Dearne and District won 4-2 at Dronfield Town in Division Two.
Kirsty Bentley and Emma Fleetwood bagged braces.
They host Eckington on Sunday.
