HTAFC Women fall short away from home against top of the tables Wolves
- Wolverhampton Wanderers Women 2-1 Huddersfield Town Women
- Paige Crossman on scoresheet again
- Comments from HTAFC Women Manager Glen Preston
HTAFC Women suffered their first defeat in three games on Sunday 3 April as Paige Crossman's goal was not enough to overcome top of the table Wolverhampton Wanderers.
A double from Maz Gauntlett saw the hosts collect another three points at the CKW Stadium as they move to within one game of winning the FAWNL title. In front of over 450 supporters, the game opened tentatively, with both sides looking to settle themselves into the game.
Wolves looked the more threatening within the first 20 minutes, coming relatively close with a direct freekick. However, the hosts found the back of the net when an unmarked Gauntlett managed to chip Beth Davies from 25 yards out.
Town responded positively, enjoying more chances in the remainder of the first half. On her 500th appearance for Huddersfield Town Women, Kate Mallin assisted Town Women's equaliser, with her corner met by the head of Paige Crossman.
The second half started with Wolves ramping up the pressure although both sides failed to create any clear-cut chances early on. The home side switched their tactics in the second half, opting for longer balls down the wings. This proved successful, as a quick throw and long pass allowed Wolves the chance to pass the ball across the box to an unmarked Gauntlett, again, who tapped the ball to Davies' left to complete her brace.
Both teams would continue to battle in midfield with Wolves threatening from the wings and Town Women working their way through central positions. Town had several chances to equalise, although Shan Turner did enough to protect her side's one-goal lead. At the other end Wolves managed several shots on target, however Davies denied them on each occasion.
The full-time whistle sounded to the delight of the home side with Wolves one point away from securing the FAWNL title in their maiden-season in the league. Town Women fell to fifth place with a game still in hand, so can move up to challenge for the top three places.
HTAFC Women Manager Glen Preston commented:
“I think 90% of that game you couldn’t separate both sides. They had one, maybe two shots all half – one of them was the goal.”
“I think overall, this is a difficult place to come to as Wolves are on good form. Secondly the pitch has made it borderline impossible to play any football today as it was incredibly hard and bobbly all over, and thirdly we were without our top two goal scorers who would’ve been ideal for us physically – and yet we still gave a good account of ourselves in a very even affair.”
HTAFC WOMEN TEAM
33 Bethan Davies (GK), 12 Autumn Housley, 19 Paige Crossman (80' Alice Linsell), 3 Beth Ibbotson, 15 Georgia Marshall, 57 Mia Parry, 23 Serena Fletcher (80' Yasmin Mason), 6 Lauren Griffiths, 7 Katie Stanley (C), 9 Ria Montgomery, 4 Kate Mallin (67' Falone Sumaili).
Huddersfield Town Women returns to County Cup action on Thursday 7 April as they face their own Development Team in the semi-final. Supporters are welcome to purchase their tickets on the day at the Stafflex Arena.
