BRADFORD City Women came from behind to earn a point for the third league game in a row this season, as they drew 1-1 at Barnsley in the FA Women's National League Division One North.

The home side started quickest, dominating possession and exploiting the space out wide, but City keeper Hannah Richards was only called upon once in the first half, as she tipped a free-kick over the bar.

The first half was a scrappy affair and City struggled too. Their only real chance came on 25 minutes when Harriet Jakeman shot wide with a long-range effort.

After the break, City came out looking the stronger of the two sides, creating a number of half chances that were squandered.

Those misses looked costly when the Bantams failed to clear their lines, and provided Courteney Csomor with an easy tap-in at the far post to give Barnsley the lead after 66 minutes.

But City continued to press, forcing Barnsley into conceding a number of fouls.

It was one of these fouls that gave City a way back into the game. As substitute Sophie Hawkins broke through, she was brought down from behind in the Reds box, and player-coach Charlotte Stuart coolly converted from the spot.

This galvanised the home side, who had a late penalty shout turned down and nearly scrambled home an injury-time corner.

After the game, City’s manager Chris Hames said: “We didn’t play to the level we expected of ourselves. We struggled to play the football we wanted to. But despite that, we have come to a tough place and earned a good away point.

“Similar to the Norton game earlier in the season, we have to take the result in context.

“We haven’t played a competitive game in seven weeks, Barnsley are fresh out of their last one a week ago. Today was just our fourth league game of the season, it was their ninth competitive game, so it’s no surprise they were sharper and quicker.

“In spite of that, we were able to limit them to very few chances, despite their possession, and we looked more threatening in the moments we went forward.

“It’s the third time we’ve earned a point after falling behind, which isn’t a bad trait to have.

“It’s now about kicking on and believing in ourselves to push for the three points in games.”

City’s next game will see them travel to Chester-le-Street on January 3, the first of four consecutive away trips.

Their reserves, whose game at Brighouse Town Development was postponed at the weekend, start 2021 with home derbies against Huddersfield Town and Leeds United.

City announced yesterday that they have signed goalkeeper Liz Hobson from Sheffield FC.

She has played on loan for the Bantams before but has now signed permanently.