Mallin fires Huddersfield Town Women to 1-0 cup victory over Chorley
The Terriers dominated the run of play, but needed a late goal to settle the game
Huddersfield Town Women edged out Chorley in a hard-fought FA WNL Cup clash at the Stafflex Arena to secure a narrow but deserved victory.
Despite controlling much of the play and creating several clear-cut chances, Town were repeatedly denied by Chorley’s busy goalkeeper and determined backline. The game remained finely balanced until late in the second half, when Kate Mallin pounced on a parried ball to finally break the deadlock and claim all three points for the Terriers.
After the final whistle, manager Glen Preston praised his side’s defensive resilience and patience: “Defensively, we were very difficult to break down. I think the defence for the last few games is the reason why we have kept a clean sheet. We aren’t really giving anything away.”
“Their keeper has probably kept them in the game,” he added, turning his attention to the other end of the pitch. “Laura Elford might have scored two or three on another day. I thought we deserved the win — we arguably created the five biggest chances.”
Town set the tone early on, winning a free-kick outside the box after a foul on the ever-dangerous Elford. Chorley dealt with Kate Mallin’s attempted conversion, but the hosts continued to grow into the half. In quick succession, Elford hit a long-range strike just wide, Hannah Burgess rattled the crossbar, and Autumn Housley forced a save from the visitors’ number 1.
Just before the break, Rhema Lord-Mears picked up the ball on the right and played Elford through the middle. Once again, the Chorley goalkeeper denied the striker, who was sin-binned for ten minutes in stoppage time for dissent.
The breakthrough finally came in the 71st minute. The keeper dropped a routine catch into Mallin’s path, and the veteran midfielder made no mistake from close range.
“We said to Kate she has to get in those areas a lot more often because that is where she will get those moments that land at your feet,” Preston explained. “She was a bit fortunate today with the keeper spilling one, but she’s got herself in the right place to make that happen.”
Chorley pushed forward late on, but Town stood firm to see out the game and notch up a clean sheet.
Preston will hope Town continue their winning streak when they take on Spennymoor Town at home in the FA Cup Third Round Qualifying next Sunday.