Late Rhema Lord-Mears strike puts Huddersfield Town Women top of the league
The Terriers prevailed in big six-pointer away to promotion rivals Wythenshawe
Huddersfield Town climbed two places to go top of FA WNL Division One North on goal difference thanks to a one-goal victory away to Wythenshawe.
Rhema Lord-Mears came up with the goods in the 79th minute against a side that started the day three points ahead of Town, while previous league leaders Cheadle Town Stingers simultaneously suffered a surprise home defeat to Durham Cestria.
Town made a quick start to the game but were unable to make the most of their opportunities to take the lead in the first half.
Molly Firth drove the ball down the right of the pitch before she delivered a good ball to Kate Mallin, who fired the ball over from inside the box.
Mallin turned creator in the 29th minute with delivered a great pass to debutante Lucy Allman in a promising position, but she was not quite able to get it under control.
Ten minutes later, Louise Biggins was met with a loose ball at the edge of the box; she reacted quickly, but the ball went narrowly wide.
Wythenshawe, for their part, were kept at bay thanks to some exceptional saves from Town keeper Bethan Davies, including a finger-tip save onto crossbar in the first half.
Davies came up big again after the break, stopping a Ciara Boylan header, while Biggins was fired over a chance created thanks to some brilliant play from Rebecca Beresford.
Town finally secured their potentially massive victory on 79 minutes following a great link-up between Kate Mallin and Lord-Mears, with the latter firing home a cutback from six yards out.
Manager Glen Preston said: “I have a lot of respect for Wythenshawe today. I’ve gone through almost every emotion in that game.
“It was stressful, to be honest, on that sideline, because the opposition gave us a proper match. It was a proper game of football between two sides absolutely going head-to-head, wanting to win the game, and so therefore it became a really good battle.
“We’ve changed formation today, and I think the players have really stood up this week. The change in shape was largely down to last week’s game (a 3-1 defeat to Leeds) and the opposition.
“We just felt we weren’t playing with natural wingers, so we needed to have a look at something different—where the strengths of our team were. The second was looking at some of the weaknesses on our analysis with Wythenshawe.
“We could have been three goals to the good at half time — I think it would have been 3-0 or 3-1 because I think they had one good chance.
“I don’t think it would have been an unfair scoreline — but when you don’t put a team to bed like we didn’t, we missed chances, you always leave the back door open for the opposition to come back.”
Preston felt Town had Davies to thank for keeping the stalemate intact for so long, stating: “There isn’t a better keeper at this level. She has come up big for us today. You don’t know how important that save could be at the end of the season.”
Preston was also with the contribution of the debuting Allman saying: “She played really well, but I think she can get better; there are one or two things that I thought she might have made better, like getting into the box.
“But she’s new to the side. She doesn’t know everything about what we expect at this moment in time. I had a look at half time and I think she covered the most distance out of all of our players, so she has grafted properly today. I think it’s a good debut and a good win to come into the side with.”
Preston also spoke on Alise Gindra, who was absent after receiving her first call-up to the senior Latvian national side.
Preston stated: “I’m really proud for her. It’s not something that all players get to experience, but I reckon that first international call-up is probably one of the best feelings you can have as a player.
“She’s obviously got that for the national team, for the first team as well, and so we are really proud of her, and I’m sure she’s really proud.”
Town will face Blackburn Rovers next, back at home on December 7th at 2pm.