Brittany Sanderson scored all four goals – including a first half hat-trick – as Huddersfield Town Women FC returned to winning ways.

The Terriers bounced back from a 2-0 defeat at Fylde to beat Stoke City FC Women 4-3 at the Stafflex Arena on Sunday.

Rosie Axten gave City an early lead with a deflected effort from a corner but Town hit back straightaway as Sanderson spun to fire home the equaliser.

Katie Anderson’s assist set up Sanderson to make it 2-1 in the 22nd minute but Town were pegged back again moments later when Callan Barber levelled the scores.

Just past the half-hour mark Town’s Laura Elford was hauled down just outside the box and would have been clean through. Hollie Gibson was sent off for the challenge.

Laura Elford is sent flying. Image by: FLAMING CREATIONS

Sanderson stepped up to take the free-kick and whipped the ball over the wall to complete her hat-trick, sending Town into half-time with a 3-2 lead.

Quick-thinking Sanderson then grabbed her fourth with another free-kick, clipping the ball over the wall and into the back of the net. Stoke’s players protested that the kick had been taken too quickly but the referee allowed the goal to stand.

That fourth goal came just after the re-start and put Town firmly in control against the 10 women, though Naomi Bedeau pulled another back for Stoke with 13 minutes remaining.

Brittany Sanderson (left) is congratulated by Laura Elford. Image by: FLAMING CREATIONS

The win saw Glen Preston’s Town side leapfrog Stoke into fourth in the table.

Another break in league fixtures means Town are back in League Cup action this weekend and travel to Loughborough Lightning on Sunday October 30 (2.00).

All three images courtesy of FLAMING CREATIONS