BARNSLEY Women’s FC saw their seven-game unbeaten league run end with a 1-0 defeat at home to second-bottom Northampton Town.
The Reds hit the post with a penalty at 0-0 then, having gone behind, were given another spot-kick in injury-time but saw it saved.
The result is a blow to their hopes of promotion from National League Division One Midlands.
The Reds are now fourth, five points off the only automatic promotion place and four off second which is a play-off spot.
Having drawn the previous two league games 0-0, following five straight wins, they are scoreless in three.
Barnsley are due to complete their 2025 games with trips to mid-table sides Notts County, which will be the midpoint in their league season, and Worcester City.
Manager Craige Richardson said: “It’s a tough one to take.
“We know we can’t underestimate anyone in this league.
“We dominated and I think we had 80 per cent possession.
“If you get a game when you miss two penalties and concede direct from a corner, you feel it’s stacked against you.
“But there are no excuses.
“Northampton parked the bus and went long which we prepared for.
“Some of our players didn’t turn up and Northampton took advantage of that.
“They did a job on us.
“This squad is resilient and bounces back.
“We will look at what went wrong and dust ourselves down.
“It’s a long season and we just have to keep going.”
Meanwhile, in the Sheffield and Hallamshire League Cup, Barnsley Ladies won 7-0 at home to SJR Worksop reserves.
Molly Waite and Charli Hayward scored hat-tricks with Ruby Whelan also on target.
Wombwell Town won 3-2 at home to Bramley Sunnyside.
Ellisha Jones, Lucy Tindle and Rebecca Hague scored.
Penistone Church lost 3-1 at home to Rossington Main.
Sunday fixtures: Barnsley Ladies v Staveley; Edenthorpe v Penistone Church; Socrates v Dearne and District; Courage v Brampton United; Wombwell Town v Aston Swallownest.
