Louise Biggins inspires Huddersfield Town Women to third straight win
A 5-0 away win at Norton & Stockton saw Town women make it four wins from five in the league this season.
Summer signing Louise Biggins finally got off the mark in style as Town Women left Teesside with all three points - beating Norton and Stockton Ancients 5-0.
Biggins’ brace bookended a battling performance which saw Rhema Lord-Mears, Laura Elford and Hannah Burgess all get on the scoresheet.
With Town starting fast once again, Biggins superbly whipped a shot from the corner of the box into the far corner after good work from Laura Elford in the second minute.
And it was two seven minutes later. The ever reliable delivery of Kate Mallin caused problems and the defence could only half clear - allowing Lord-Mears time to rifle into the bottom corner from 18-yards.
Elford then got in on the act after half an hour. Brilliant play between the striker and Rebecca Beresford down the left before Elford bullied her way into the box and powered a low effort across the keeper into the corner.
The second half was a quieter affair. On a tough pitch, Town struggled to get hold of the ball, but so did their opponents - it wasn’t pretty.
But it shows the class Town have this season and it ultimately shone through against a side who they failed to beat last season.
Biggins turned provider when her cross caused the Norton keeper problems which allowed substitute Hannah Burgess to poke home under Elen Valentine from close range.
Before Biggins rounded off proceedings with a brilliant team goal. Elford’s touch and pass down the left and Mallin’s trickery and cross set up the striker to nod home from 6 yards out.
To say it’s been a frustrating start to the season for Biggins would be an understatement. With her teammates scoring 14 goals in the first four league games before the trip to Teesside, to see the former Barnsley attacker with none to her name remained a mystery.
But, at the fifth time of asking, she got her just desserts.
After the game, Biggins said: “I’m really happy to get my first two goals for the team.
“I really enjoy playing in this team. There’s so much quality.”
After signing from Barnsley in the summer, Biggins has struggled to find the back of the net - not through want of trying. She’s been unlucky in the whole but was delighted to get off the mark.
She said: “I’m really happy. I’m really glad to get my first goal. Hopefully I can get more now.”
“I’m really glad to have scored because I do like to get assists but goals are what I want.
“It’s been frustrating as I’ve had chances but they just either wouldn’t fall or the ‘keepers seem to be pulling off unbelievable saves..
Biggins was quick to praise her attacking partner Laura Elford as someone who’s helping her thrive at the club.
She told We Are Terriers: “The quality she [Elford] has is fantastic so to work with her and work off her in training is amazing. I’ll learn so much from her”
With four wins from five, Biggins is confident the team can achieve what they want to this season.
She added: “We want to push for promotion and I think we can do that. We just need to keep the momentum going and keep winning games.”
Manager Glen Preston was delighted to see Biggins get her first goals for the club and knew they were never too far away.
He said: “She absolutely deserves it.
“It’s not just about her goal contributions but she creates space for others and brings others into play. Her link up play and physicality is so important to the team.
“But today she’s added the cherry on the cake because she’s able to score a couple of goals. She probably deserves a few more this season and got a few in preseason so we know she can score goals.”