Sheffield Wednesday Ladies fell to their 12th loss of the season as they went down 4-1 away to York Railway Institute.

Despite York being out of league action since the last meeting between these sides on 4 December 2022, the North Yorkshire outfit were still able to get the best of the visitors and seal the double over Mick Bigley’s side for 2022/23.

Travelling to the game with 12 players, including goalkeeper Courtney Tingle as the lone substitute, the Owls were always going to be up against it and that proved to be the case against a York side that have lost just twice this season.

A pair of goals from league top scorer Jodie Langstaff, who bagged a hattrick in the reverse fixture in South Yorkshire, plus strikes from Jess Baker and Tamryn Dunlop were enough to see the hosts home, with Amy Broomhead scoring the consolation for the Owls.

Speaking after the match, manager Mick Bigley said: “It was hard going today, but we gave it a good go and did what we could.

“With players missing through injury and unavailability, we were thin on the ground, then a couple of the girls picked up knocks during the game as well.

“We’re not making excuses though and we’ll keep battling. That continues at training and then into a big game next weekend.”

Defeat and results elsewhere mean that SWLFC now occupy the lone relegation spot at the foot of the NERWFL South table, with eight games remaining.

The Owls head to Harworth Colliery next Sunday in what could be an important fixture for both teams, with the Doncaster-based side currently 10th, two points ahead of SWLFC, having played four fewer games.

Elsewhere this weekend, there were six junior ties, from U18s down to U12s.

The U18s bowed out of the Shield after a comprehensive 7-0 defeat by Chesterfield. Losing three players midweek to injury and illness, Christian Dunn’s side then lost captain Millie Dunn a few minutes in and would see goalkeeper Emily Cooper depart through injury before the final whistle.

The U16s fared much better, beating Worksop Town 8-1 thanks to goals from Christiana Smith (4), Ruby Whelan (2) and Alexandra Wyborn, whilst the U15s saw off Barnsley FC 5-1 thanks to a pair of goals from Kelsey Spink-Robinson and Amber MacKenzie, plus one more from Charlotte Bond.

Poppy Sturch and Alice Grimley both found themselves on the score sheet for the U14s, helping to seal a valuable 2-1 victory against Barnsley FC White.

The U13s went down 5-0 away to Bessacarr JFC Red, and the U12s struggled to create much going forward in a scrappy 1-0 defeat against Chesterfield.

For more information on this story, please contact Dave Higgins, chairman@swlfc.co.uk