In a fiercely competitive game of two strong and competitive sides, Hull City Ladies faced the pain of a late sucker punch to lose out to Barnsley 2-1

City started at lightning pace, with Hope Knight racing through inside the first minute. Her lofted effort beat defender and keeper, but couldn’t drop quick enough to give the Tigresses the lead

Barnsley then grew in to the match and caused issues early on from wide areas, their pace and direct play got them quickly down the side and both Stuart and Pierrepont had good efforts in the box to give the visitors the lead

And then they did take the lead. A well delivered corner from the right wasn’t managed, and Beck’s movement lost her marker and gave her the space to power a header in from close range

City responded. Ackroyd created an excellent chance for herself from the right, powering through before unleashing 2 good efforts on goal, both blocked by GK and recovering defender respectively

Quick play from Knight then played in Thompson, who timed her run perfectly as raced through, only to be thwarted by the onrushing Clarke in the visitors goal

Clarke again proved vital late in the half as she tipped a stinging Knight shot around the post

Second half, City came out the stronger. Tanser benefitted from a swinging cross from the left, but couldn’t keep her effort down at the back post

And then the Tigresses were level. A long clearance from Wallace bounced though and over the Barnsley back line. Ackroyd ran through from deep and lifted her effort over the onrushing goalkeeper

And then the chances really came. First Knight, looking to capitalise on a mix up in the Barnsley defence, Tanser from a cross, and Brookes at the near post all had great opportunities to put the hosts in front on the night

It was then, with Barnsley’s only attack of the half that they took their moment. A deep cross from the right wasn’t managed in the box, as the ball fell Beck capitalised and prodded home for the winner

“It’s a tough one to take, we will take a little bit to dust down from that game and from a very tough week against two top sides

If tonight and Sunday were the benchmarks for being the best side in this league, then we have shown we are in that mix. Capable of not just competing but dominating and owning the games. There are key bits we need to improve on, and fix quite quickly at the moment, but overall we have to take the positives up to this point in the season

Ultimately though tonight is disappointing, we won’t sugar coat it any other way. But let’s use it to progress ourselves and our game further over the course of the seaosn”