There was a positive atmosphere despite the windy conditions at Carnegie Sports Village as FC Farsley Women took on York City Ladies Development in a NERWFL Division One South match that both sides were desperate to win.

The opening exchanges were cagey as both sides adapted to the on-field conditions and it was Farsley who struck first as Shirley Murphy found the composure to finish after goalmouth scramble caused by Georgina Kaye’s cross.

This triggered an immediate response from York who went straight up the other end from kick off to draw the game level after 25 minutes.

Emily Kilroy regained the lead for Farsley after some brilliant work from Sophia Lyons to beat a couple of defenders and get to the byline before pulling it back for Kilroy to tuck away with ease. The 2-1 lead at half time was well deserved for this ever-improving Farsley side.

York City equalised once again on 65 minutes after an unfortunate injury to Emma O’Hanlon led to a reshuffle in the Farsley attack.

The game was in the balance for most of the second half and debutant goalkeeper Ella Wallace made some brilliant saves to protect the Farsley goal before Shirley Murphy bagged her second of the game, tucking into the bottom corner after a spell of pressure.

A misplaced pass in defence gave York their third equaliser of the day in the 88th minute and it looked like it was going to be two points disappointingly dropped by Farsley, but there was still plenty of action to come.

In the final minute of the game, Ella Wallace’s wind-assisted long ball forward beat all of the York defence with Shirley Murphy free 1-on-1 with only the oncoming goalkeeper to beat. Her first time effort lobbed the keeper and calmly rolled in the back of the net for 4-3.

It was Georgina Kaye who put the icing on the cake with a fiercely struck effort from outside the penalty area to make it 5-3 in injury time and it was Farsley who tasted league victory for the first time this season at the end of this entertaining battle.