By Middlesbrough FC

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Middlesbrough 2
Barnsley FC 2

A late goal earned Boro a point at home against Barnsley.

Michael Mulhern named an unchanged XI from the side that suffered their first defeat of the season against Doncaster Belles a week ago. 

Early chances went Boro's way, the best of which falling to Emma Foster who headed a great ball from Lauren Robson on target which was saved by the 'keeper.

Boro had a good share of the ball in the first ten minutes but played themselves into trouble as Ruby Cook's pass into Grace Boyes was intercepted and Foster's attempted clearance beat Cook in goal and handed Barnsley the lead. 

After that shock to the system, Boro looked to get the leveller straight away. Armani Maxwell first hit a cross into the box which just evaded Becky Ferguson, then came close herself after a great touch from Abby Towers' cross had her in on goal, but she was charged down by the 'keeper before she could shoot.

Looking the better side, Boro deserved the leveller that came just seven minutes after going behind. Ellen Turnbull won a race to the byline before crossing to the front post where Leanna Giles was ready to flick the ball goalwards and square the game up.

Almost instantly Boro thought they had the lead, after Becky Ferguson held up the ball well and set Robson up for a shot which nestled into the bottom corner, but the referee blew for handball and the goal didn't stand. 

After Turnbull won a free-kick in a dangerous area, Maxwell stood over to take it with her left foot, she fired on goal forcing the 'keeper to palm it away - only as far as Towers who found Ferguson in the box, but she shot wide of the mark. 

Barnsley attacked quickly from the goal kick and managed to fire a shot which could have caught Cook off guard, but she reacted quickly and kept the score at 1-1.

After Boro dominated the game since Giles' equaliser, Barnsley had their second major chance of the game and took it, restoring their lead as the half-time whistle blew. 

Boro needed a reaction at half-time and did look lively in the second half, while Barnsley didn't have a shot on goal inside the opening exchanges. 

The biggest chance came the way of Lauren Robson, as Boro broke in a three-on-one she didn't get her pass off quick enough and what should have been a big opportunity fizzled away. 

Maxwell and Turnbull continued to deliver decent crosses into the box, but there was no finishing touch applied. 

Boro once again had a goal ruled out, as Millie Bell headed into the top corner but the linesman flagged for offside. Searching for a goal, Michael Mulhern made a change up top, bringing Jess Mett on for home debutant Becky Ferguson. 

Minutes after being denied an equaliser, Boro's shouts for a penalty were waved away as what looked like a handball in the box wasn't given by the ref. 

Boro were banging on the door all half and got what they deserved as Robson delivered a ball into the box that was put into the back of the net via an own goal for the leveller. 

With four minutes added on Boro pushed for the winner and came inches away from it as Turnbull put in a low cross that was so close to going in on its own but lacked the touch to put it away. 

Wilkinson came close with the last kick of the game from a free-kick but it was just over the bar and Boro had to settle for a point.

Middlesbrough: Cook, Towers (C), Turnbull, Maxwell, Robson, Giles, Foster, Wilkinson, Bell, Ferguson (Mett 70')

Unused subs: Wareham, Packham, Dale, Harland