Second Half Collapse Knocks Town Off Top

Huddersfield Town Women fell to their heaviest home defeat in two years and a first of the season as a brilliant Sunderland comeback kept the away side top of the table.

Town actually started the brighter and, just like against Stoke a week ago, made an a blistering start to the game.

Georgia Marshall drove forwards from defence, played a one-two with Kate Mallin and delivered a brilliant cross which found Ellie White's late run into the box which the striker dispatched brilliantly into the corner of the net.

The home side were in no mood to let up and nearly went two-nil up when Laura Elford hit a shot wide, but there was a stark reminder of Sunderland's quality as Town 'keeper Olivia Clark was forced to make a smart stop moments later.

The entire first half was a cagey affair, with neither side creating any clear cut chances until Mollie Lambert, who scored the winner in this fixture last season, was played through one-on-one with Clark, only to blaze her effort well over the crossbar.

But there was still time for the visitors to create one more opportunity before the half-time whistle when Jessica Brown raced into the penalty area before squaring the ball across the face of goal, only for Town's centre halves Georgia Marshall and Vicky Abbott to thwart what seemed a certain equaliser - clearing the ball after a brilliant goal-line challenge.

Despite the Terriers' best efforts, however, Sunderland grabbed a deserved leveller in the opening minute as the second half, albeit in controversial fashion.

Clark came for a low cross and seemed to have two hands on the ball when a Sunderland forward collided with her. The ball then span loose and Kiera Ramshaw slotted the ball into the empty net.

The game was now end to end with both sides desperate to get a winning goal which would see them stay top of the table - and it was the visitors who got their noses in front.

A ball down the channel released half-time substitute Katie Barker, who sped away from Newsham before beating Clark at her near post.

And in the blink of an eye, the game was over. Town defended a corner poorly as failed attempts to clear allowed Grace McCatty to strike the ball into the bottom corner.

The hosts tried and tried to break down Sunderland's defence, but more poor defending allowed a goal kick to bounce through to Brown on the right wing, whose shot should have been dealt with better by Clark as the 'keeper palmed the ball straight into the path of Bridget Galloway, who passed the ball into the roof of the unguarded goal to end the contest once and for all.

Next up for Huddersfield, they need to dust themselves down and regroup as for the away game against Nottingham Forest next weekend as they look to return to the top of the table.