Huddersfield Town Ladies cruised through to the County Cup semi-finals after beating Harworth Colliery 8-0 at the Stafflex Arena. 

The ladies dominated the whole game with Emily Heckler, Brittany Sanderson and Ella Harris all scoring a brace on the day. With Kate Mallin and Sarah Danby also getting on the score sheet. 

Town opened the scoring early on, with Heckler connecting to a Danby cross. Heckler's diving header on the 2nd minute would set Town up nicely for the rest of the afternoon. 

It wasn't long after that when Town got their second, a deep cross to the back post was once again latched onto by Heckler who finished well to score her second of the day. 

Town had the game sewn up on the 17th minute when Sanderson tapped in from close range from another delightful Harris cross from the left. 

The goal scoring was halted until five minutes before half time when Sanderson grabbed her second and Town's fourth of the game. A clever move created the opportunity showing Town's ability to put teams to the sword. A free kick from Mallin was floated to the back post, a header from a Town attacker struck the woodwork and Sanderson slotted in the re-bound. 

Mallin had a glorious opportunity two minutes later to put Town five up, however she saw her effort cleared off of the line. 

Town's first half display was simply magnificent and a cup upset wasn't going to be on the cards. Town continued to dominate going into the second half. 

It wasn't long into the second half period before Town made it 5-0, a cross from the right put Mallin through on goal, and she delivered by slotting away the chance. 

Harris grabbed her first goal of the day and Town's sixth on the 54th minute. A wonderful worked flowing move from Heckler, Mallin and Harris on the edge of the visitors box left the opposition in knots. Harris who was eventually put through on goal couldn't miss and duly didn't. 

Town by that stage were working like a well oiled machine and Danby got her goal on the 61st minute. Another deadly cross from Mallin was pin point and Danby swiped in Town's seventh of the afternoon. 

It was one of the easiest games Town keeper Laura Carter will ever have between the sticks. However on the 63rd minute she was thrown into action. 

Town's Charley Evans brought down her opponent in the box and the ref immediately pointed to the penalty spot. No VAR needed in that situation. Harworth's Sophie Thompson struck a poor penalty down the middle of the goal which Carter saved. 

Harris finished Town's afternoon off in style by scoring the teams eighth a well timed cross from the right fell straight to Harris's feet in the six yard box, and she rolled the ball over the line. 

 

Town ladies winger Danby was pleased with the win, and says that whilst it is good to get to a semi-final of a cup competition, the league is still the main focus. 

She said: "It was good that different people got on the score sheet which can only bring confidence to the whole team. It could have been a tricky fixture today but the girls played well. 

"We had to keep up the standards that we set ourselves, it doesn't matter who the opposition is. Those types of games can be difficult to play in due to the opposition you play, however I thought the team showed a great mental attitude today. 

"We like to play the ball on the deck and put good crosses into the box, we did that well today and luckily enough people got on the end of those crosses and finished the chances off.

"If we can take that sort of football into the league games then that would be excellent. Next week is going to be a tough fixture against AFC Fylde for sure. 

"We want to progress in both competitions but the league is the main focus and we want to be challenging at the right end of the table which we are doing. 

"We want to keep up the pressure on teams above us and whilst I believe that Fylde are in a false position in the league table at the minute, that doesn't mean we can take them lightly next weekend."

 

Town's goalkeeping coach Michael Emery says that Town must not get too far ahead of themselves and says they need to take things one game at a time. 

He said: "We just have to take one game at a time, we can't get too carried away and look too far ahead we just need to keep focused on the game that is in front of us. 

"We respect the opposition whoever it is, Harworth are a good side, but the team were professional throughout the whole day and we played some brilliant football. 

"Sometimes if you are expected to win easily it can add extra pressure to you but I thought we handled that well. 

"Hopefully we can take that form into the league, we just need to keep doing what we've been doing in games and in training. 

"These types of games can be difficult for keepers, you have to keep concentrated and she came up with a big save when it was needed so from my point of view I was happy with her performance today.

"It's a good competition to win, it's one at the start of the season that you put down and say we have a chance of winning something, and everyone wants to win trophies."

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Match report by Steven Downes

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Mascot for the game was 10 year old Sienna Noble, and she is pictured with Vicky Abbott and the team prior top the game