BARNSLEY Women’s FC are due to visit Huddersfield Town in the semi-final of the Sheffield Senior Cup on Sunday.
The Reds, who have won their last four games in all competitions, are fourth in National League Division One Midlands while Huddersfield are top of the northern division in the same tier which is the fourth in English football.
Huddersfield have been in the last nine finals, five times against Barnsley.
Manager Craige Richardson said: “It will be tough.
“Huddersfield are also doing well.
“They are not renowned for scoring a load of goals but they win a lot of games.
“On paper, we might be the underdogs and we quite like that.
“But, given our form, we are quietly confident.
“I am sure they have one eye on promotion and let’s hope that is a bit of a distraction for them.
“This is a very new squad so to be fourth in the league and in a cup semi-final, it’s not what we set out to do but it wouldn’t be a poor season if we managed to collect something.”
Although Huddersfield Town’s women are part of the same organisation as their men’s team, Barnsley WFC are an independent club and the highest-placed in the town after Barnsley FC shut down their women’s team last summer.
Richardson said: “Our attendances are climbing all the time.
“People from Barnsley are seeing we are Barnsley through and through and it’s a good event on the day.
“We’re proud to be an independent club and proud to represent Barnsley.
“Unfortunately we are the only women’s team to represent Barnsley at this level.
“The girls wear the shirt with pride every week.
“It adds a bit of extra spice that we can go into the Yorkshire derby as an independent club representing Barnsley.”
The Reds won 3-0 at Kidderminster Harriers on Sunday.
Ocean Rolandsen, Freya Walton and Tanya Fozzard got the goals.
Richardson said: “Kidderminster are third from bottom and fighting to stay in the league.
“It got a bit scrappy.
“At half-time we were deservedly in front but we had to be more composed on the ball.
“We were in the second half and it could have been four or five.
“We have won the last four, scoring 15 goals and conceding one freak goal from the halfway line.
“We had a wobble around Christmas because of injuries, when we had a lot of long journeys, and that is ultimately what has cost us the league potentially.
“If you take our form prior to that and after, we know we can compete really well.
“We’ve worked on our shape, changed how we approach games to suit the squad we’ve got and it seems to be paying dividends.”
Barnsley are 13 points off top and 12 behind second which is a play-off place, with five matches left.
Richardson said: “The one thing about Barnsley as a town is we never give up the fight.
“We will keep going as long as we have a chance mathematically.
“We have (second-placed) Peterborough to play and the top three play each other so there is a chance that they could take points off each other and we have to be ready to step into the second position if we can.
“We would probably have to win every game which I don’t think is beyond us.
“We’ve made it a mountain to climb and, if it’s taken out of our hands, we will look to consolidate where we are.
“We have brought in some good players in the last few weeks and we have one eye on the rebuild for next year.”
Meanwhile, Barnsley FC Ladies won 1-0 at Sheffield Wednesday reserves in Sheffield and Hallamshire League Division Two.
Lily Holt got the goal.
The Reds are 11 points clear at the top and visit second-placed Brinsworth on Sunday.
Penistone Church drew 0-0 at home to Socrates.
Wombwell Town lost 5-1 at Brampton United in Division Four.
Courage won 3-2 at West End Terriers.
Rhian Corbett scored twice and Rona Bird once.
Sunday fixtures: Brinsworth Whitehill v Barnsley Ladies; Dearne and District v Penistone Church.
