Huddersfield Town Women progress in the Vitality Women’s FA Cup
- Doncaster Belles 0-3 Huddersfield Town Women
- HTAFC Women in Second Round of FA Cup
- Elford, Housley and Belles own goal the difference
Huddersfield Town Women booked their place in the Second Round of this year’s Vitality Women’s FA Cup with a comfortable three goal victory over Doncaster Belles of the FA Women’s National League Division 1.
Taking place on Remembrance Sunday, both sides laid wreaths at the centre circle before observing the playing of the last post and two-minute silence before the game got under way.
In what were very wet conditions, it would be Town who made the best start, opening the scoring less than five minutes into the game. Kate Mallin was slid in down the wing and her delivery was inch perfect, finding Laura Elford coming in at the far post who made no mistake from less than three yards out.
Belles looked to hit back shortly after, but a combination of Town ‘keeper Lauren Joyce and the assistant referee’s flag kept the score in Town’s favour.
Town Women then went in the hunt for their second with Britt Sanderson the next to try her luck after Katie Anderson set her up on the edge of the box, but her shot went just over the bar.
Belles thought they were level just before the half hour mark as a speculative effort from just outside the box looped over Joyce in the Town goal and skimmed the bottom of the cross bar but somehow doesn’t cross the line. A big let off for Town Women in a spell where they’d started to look more comfortable in the game, despite the difficult weather conditions.
Just before half time Town doubled their lead as Kate Mallin whipped in another inch perfect delivery from a corner, with centre back Autumn Housley timing her run to perfection and glancing the ball into the back of the net to give Town Women a commanding position at the break.
More chances followed in the second half as Kiera Heslam and Britt Sanderson were both denied, but Heslam did have a part to play in the eventual third and final goal of the game.
Great link up play between captain Mia Parry and Heslam saw the latter drill a shot toward goal. Appearing to being heading wide, a late toe from a Belles defender deflected the ball into the back of the net, securing Town Women’s progression in the Cup.
Town Women are back in action next weekend, welcoming Sheffield United Foundation’s First Team to the Stafflex Arena as they look to defend their Sheffield and Hallamshire County Cup title.
