Wednesday Ladies came into today's fixture with three consecutive wins in the NERWFL, looking to make it a fourth against familiar opponents, Lower Hopton. The visitors proved to be tough competition last season, doing the double over us, and once again found a way to edge a tight encounter.

It was a poor start to the first half for Wednesday, as Lower Hopton were awarded a penalty just five minutes in, and calmly slotted it into the bottom left corner to take an early lead. Things went from bad to worse shortly after, with the visitors doubling their advantage in the 10th minute after an audacious strike from distance flew into the top corner, leaving goalkeeper Holly Coughlan with no chance.

Despite the early setbacks, the Owlesses soon settled into the game, enjoying long spells of possession and showing clear improvement, both offensively and defensively. The best chance came from full-back Maisie Gilligan, whose shot just veered past the post. Although Wednesday grew into the game and took control, it remained 2-0 to Lower Hopton at the break.

Wednesday flew out of the gates in the second half and finally got their reward through winger Nicole Shaw, who hit the ball on the volley from close range into the roof of the net, after a looping cross from Chloe Rose. That was Shaw's fifth game in a row being on the scoresheet after goals against Handsworth, Farsley, Ilkley, and Millmoor.

The Owlesses kept the pressure on and battled hard, with Rebekah Pratley producing a brilliant sliding block in the 70th minute to deny Lower Hopton a third goal. Chances continued to fall Wednesday’s way, and midfielder Abbie Hastie came inches from a spectacular finish, with her curling effort spinning just wide of the bottom corner.

The elusive equaliser finally arrived in the 80th minute. After being brought down just outside the area, Shaw stepped up and delivered yet another trademark free-kick, firing it past the keeper to level the score at 2–2.

Against the run of play, Lower Hopton regained the lead in the closing minutes after an unfortunate moment for Coughlan, which allowed their striker to tap into an empty net. Wednesday pushed hard for another equaliser in the dying moments, coming unbelievably close when Eleanor Vessey’s brilliant header crashed off the underside of the bar and bounced out, denying what would have been a well-deserved leveller.

The game finished 3–2, a frustrating result after Wednesday had been in control for much of the contest. Lower Hopton remain a bogey side, and made the most of limited chances and punished the Owlesses when it mattered, bringing an end to Wednesday’s winning run in the NERWFL.

Despite the setback, the Owlesses remain 5th in the table and will look to bounce back quickly when they face Farsley in the cup next time out.

XI: Coughlan; Gilligan, Yeardley, Lee, Pratley; Crossland, Russell, Hastie; Norsworthy, Shaw, Rose. Subs: Vessey, Barrett.