Louise Biggins’ hat trick helps Huddersfield Town Women ease to victory over Chester-le-Street Town
Biggins’ treble and a ninth of the season for Hannah Burgess saw Town close the gap on leaders Cheadle with a 4-1 win.
Huddersfield Town Women manager Glen Preston sung the praises of Louise Biggins who fired Town to victory - despite only just passing a fitness test.
Biggins capped off a brilliant week for Huddersfield Town Women with a hat trick in a 4-1 win over Chester-le-Street Town at the Stafflex arena
Town had their customary quick start when Hannah Burgess raced on to Kate Mallin’s flick on to score after two minutes before the Biggins show commenced.
Mallin, who provided three assists on her 601st outing for Town, whipped in a delightful corner which Biggins met and powered home after 24 minutes.
Molly Firth then almost made it three but her cross-cum-shot forced the visiting ‘keeper into an unbelievable save - tipping the ball onto the bar before clearing.
But it wasn’t long before Biggins made it three. Rhema Lord-Mears as usual was the architect as her good play fed Biggins before the attacker danced her way through three defenders on the edge of the box and slotted home from 12 yards.
And the hat trick was complete just before the break. Mallin caused confusion on the byline for Chester-le-Street and laid the ball back into the path of Biggins who rifled home for 4-0.
The visitors made four changes at the break and on the hour they pulled a goal back after Town switched off.
But in the end Town kept their North-East opponents at arms length and comfortably saw the game out to pick up the three points.
It was a slow start to the season for Biggins but as soon as the first goal came away at Norton, she’s found her feet. And her eighth goal in all competitions this season, Glen Preston was quick to praise his hat trick scorer.
He told We Are Terriers: “Biggins wasn’t even expected to start today. She came through a fitness test last minute and was playing through the pain barrier and she’s scored an unbelievable hat trick.
“She was absolutely brilliant today. It’s probably her best performance for us and it’s made sure we got a commanding situation in the first half to allow us to see the game through.”
Because of injuries throughout the squad, Preston is still yet to field what he sees as his strongest side and today saw Biggins fill in as a deeper midfielder as opposed to her normal attacking role.
Preston added: “She’s played a bit deeper today because of the injury but I think I could play Biggins in any role. She’s just an all round player and at the moment I could put her in goal and she’d find a way of scoring. She deserves huge praise.”
Before the game Town legend Kate Mallin was presented with a framed signed shirt to honour her 600th appearance in midweek - something she was pleasantly surprised about.
Mallin said: “Everyone was telling me we need to go out a bit earlier and I was like ‘why?’
“Then I realised and it was a really nice touch. All the girls had signed the shirt so I’ve now got to find somewhere to put it!”
After the defeat to Leeds you’d have been forgiven for thinking Town’s chances of promotion were looking slim. With two defeats and an injury hit squad, they looked behind the eight-ball.
Fast forward and they’re in the second round of the FA Cup and one point off leaders Cheadle in the league after five straight wins - as well as Cheadle dropping points in the last two games.
With the promotion race heating up, Preston said: “It’s going to be intense. There’ll be twist and turns and every team is capable of beating everyone.
“Everyone will drop points at some point so consistency will be key. At the minute we’ve got that.
“The Leeds game aside, we’ve been very good and consistent for the last 20 games or so. And we’re only just really building a head of steam. As players come back and if we sign another player, I do fancy our chances to be able to kick on.
“I’d rather be top and know our destiny is in our hands and everyone looking at us so we’re not really where we want to be.
Next up for Town Women is a trip to league leaders Cheadle Town Stingers in the FAWNL plate.