Huddersfield Town ladies drew 1-1 with Leicester City ladies in a crunch game at the Stafflex Arena.

 

It was 2nd vs 3rd in the FA Women's Premier League North Division. Town had the chance to go above their opponents.

 

Neither side had come up with a real goal scoring opportunity in the first 15 minutes. However it was the visitors who scored the opening goal. Leicester's Sophie Domingo floated in a great free kick and Paige Crossman headed past Town's goalkeeper Laura Carter in the 17th minute. 

 

Town needed someone to come up with something special, Lucy Sowerby's dipping 20 yard effort nearly produced the equaliser on the 22nd minute.

 

The home side then did draw level just seven minutes later when Brittany Sanderson's long range drive arrowed into the left corner of the goal.

 

The second half was a very scrappy affair and it was Town who produced the better chances. 

 

Sanderson tried to replicate her first half goal by striking another long range effort, however the Leicester keeper got her fingertips to the shot. It was Kate Mallin who came up with the best attempt in the dying moments of the game when her shot struck the crossbar.

 

The result means the blue and white striped team stay 3rd in the league, and one point behind Leicester in 2nd.

 

On her goal Sanderson said: "I just hit it and, I could see the space open up so I just had a go and it went in.

 

"I like to shoot from distance I think I have that in my game, I nearly scored again in the second half but unfortunately their keeper made a great save."

 

Town's manager Ash Vickers said that his side could have won the game and while he is happy to take a point, he would have liked all three.

 

Vickers said on the draw: "I thought we dominated most of the game, they had their 20 minute spell in the first half when they got their goal. The goal we conceded was disappointing as we didn't track their runners. 

 

"We got back on it after they scored, and Brittany's goal is an outstanding strike, we want our midfielders to shoot more and she's taken that on board and scored a brilliant goal.

 

"We could have won it at the end, I thought Kate had scored it, I was already celebrating on the pitch, and for it to come back off the crossbar like it has is so unfortunate." 

 

Town play in the County Cup next week against Harworth Colliery FC at the Stafflex Arena and Vickers insists his side will be taking the competition as seriously as ever. 

 

Vickers continued: "We take every competition seriously and we want to defend our title from last season, it is a good cup to win, we will be working hard on the training ground to be ready for that game."

 

Assistant manger Sarah Dobby also commented on the draw against Leicester believing that Town could have snatched all three points at the death. 

 

She said: "We would have liked to have got the win today, they have a game in hand on us and so it would have been nice to get whatever advantage we could have had by winning. 

 

"They are a difficult team to play against and a point overall was probably fair but the chances we had at the end nearly got us that winner. 

 

"We have a few knocks to the centre backs which we'll keep an eye on, and with the county cup coming up next week, it will give us a chance to rest a few players."

 

Match report by Steven Downes

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Mascots for the day were 9 year old Niamh Redfearn and 6 year old Elsa Smith, who are both pictured with Kate Mallin and Charley Evans prior to the game.