Words: Oliver Eaton – Pictures: Jess Hornby
Huddersfield Town Women return to cup action on Sunday December 12 where they welcome newly-formed Loughborough Lightning to the Stafflex Arena (1.00 kick-off).
The Terriers are in fine form and go into the game on the back of three matches where they’ve scored 26 goals without reply.
In the previous round of the Vitality Women’s FA Cup, Town beat Sheffield FC 3-0. A win against Loughborough will see the Terriers enter the fourth round, just one short of their current record within the competition.
Town’s opponents are currently on their best run of results – winning three of their last four matches.
However, these wins have all come against weaker opposition within both the FAWNL Cup (2-1 win against Cambridge United) and the Vitality Women’s FA Cup (3-0 win against Solihull Moors then a 2-0 win away to Stevenage).
Their league form tells a different story as the university-based team sit second from bottom after only picking up one win all season.
READ MORE: New Huddersfield Town Women boss Glen Preston speaks of his aims for the club
Both teams met late August when the Terriers took all three points home following a 5-1 victory. However, manager Glen Preston, in his third game in charge, says he won’t be complacent in his preparations.
He said: “We approach every game the same no matter who we are playing, whether we’re playing a tier 7 club or a tier 1 club. We’d always try to understand the oppositions strengths, vulnerabilities, key players, principles of play etc and factor that into our own strategy.
“They are in a similar league position and form to Sheffield FC but I think for a cup game form goes out of the window.”
Despite a glut of goals Preston is particularly pleased with his side’s defensive work and said: “I think that’s been the most pleasing aspect from the last two performances.
“We haven’t conceded and we haven’t really come close to conceding either. Against Fylde they did have one good chance in the opening five minutes but, once we found our rhythm, they didn’t get close to our goal again for the remaining 85 minutes and versus Sheffield FC, we restricted them to just two long-range efforts on goal all game whilst controlling every phase of the game.
“I would love for that to be the same on Sunday but the game doesn’t always play by our rules so we will have to see.”
Town Women will face Loughborough Lightning again on Sunday December 19 as they meet in the other cup competition, the FAWNL Cup.
PLAYER TO WATCH
In the Vitality Women’s FA Cup competition so far, Town have scored 23 goals after two rounds. Out of these goal scorers, full-back Paige Crossman is currently joint top-scorer alongside forward Lucy Sowerby. The duo have scored five goals each.
Crossman, who scored against her former club Sheffield last week, wants to continue her goal scoring form and said: “I think I’m as shocked as the rest of the squad to have scored five in our FA Cup campaign so far!
Being a full-back, I’m definitely not known for being prolific in front of goal however I hope to continue to help the team at both ends of the pitch wherever I can in our cup and league campaigns and if that means ‘bagging’ a few more goals this season I’ll be happy.
“The priority for me is always the final result and competing to our full potential.”
HOW TO WATCH HTWFC
Kick off on Sunday December 12 is at 1pm with turnstiles opening from around 11.30am. Tickets cost £5 adults, £3 concessions and kids go free!
Can’t make the game? As always, online coverage of the match will be available across all HTWFC channels including minute-by-minute updates on our Twitter @HTAFCWomen plus match build up on our Instagram. Highlights will also be released following the game for fans to catch up on the action.
