Goals either side of the half-time break courtesy of club top-scorer Charlotte Stuart saw the away side with a comfortable advantage heading into the closing stages of the fixture.
Late troubles saw the hosts pull one back, with a narrow final period in the tie eventually concluded as Glen Preston’s side advanced through before a vocal home contingency.
The occasion was one of great significance for both sides, with the gravitas of the contest in the red-brick town highlighted by the Wham Stadium venue, as Huddersfield entered the cup tie off the back of a presiding victory against Nantwich Town in the round previous.
There were a number of omissions from Preston’s conventional selection, with both Ria Montgomery and Scarlett McMahon featuring in the place of Serena Fletcher and Yasmin Mason, as Accrington Stanley’s recent form of 14 straight victories will have been somewhat of a consideration amongst the Terriers.
The opening period saw one of a similar theme to recent showings, as the opposition displayed a sharp, intense pressing system, only sustainable short-term however as Town developed a foothold in possession post the 10-minute mark.
A chance in the 17th minute saw Rebecca Beresford’s low cross-claimed, as a well-developed build-up in attack facilitated by a deep-dropping McMahon saw the full-back freed on the left flank.
Town opened the scoring just a minute later however, as top-scorer Stuart met top-assister Kate Mallin’s corner, rising highest to nod into the far corner as she earnt her eighth of the campaign in all competitions.
Preston’s fluidity in system and shape was displayed once again, heavily attributed to the deep-lying role of Ella Duffield, who would receive the ball from the central defenders of the half-turn to induce a heavily narrow style of build-up play.
The high nature of the full-back however created a doubled winger system to result a sprouting style of attacking development, as an emphasis on width would increase as the ball gradually furthered up the field of play.
Accrington saw a number of chances on the break, with their dynamic wingers resulting in their greatest threat coming from counter-attacking situations.
Stanley’s first clear-cut opportunity occurred shortly before the break, with attacker Ocean Flanagan releasing a driven effort from range, denied by the works of Kacey Bolton-Woolam who met it low with a sprawling dive to parry the ball out for a corner.
Half Time: Accrington Stanley 0-1 Huddersfield Town
The second period opened with a potential call for handball, with an opposition block on Beth Ibbotson’s effort not deemed an offence by the official, as the hosts came close to levelling once again on the break just moments later.
A second break saw Bolton-Woollam stand strong to deny on-running attacker Niamh Corrigan in a one v one situation, as the young goalkeeper was starting to be tested in the contest.
An early substitution saw Mason take the place of McMahon, with the increase in the size of the field of play likely to be capitalised on by the surging pace of the substitute, who provided an alternative attacking profile to the away outfit.
Stuart and Huddersfield earnt their second in the 61st minute, as Mason’s strike was blocked and eventually deflected into the path of the attacking midfielder, who opened her body well to slot into the far bottom corner and doubled the Town advantage.
Despite the lead, Huddersfield were still generally dominating possession, as they searched for a third to seal the final nail in the Accrington coffin, with all Town players understanding their roles and executing them to a high standard.
It was the hosts to respond next however, as a defensive mishap saw Corrigan freed in behind, displaying considerable levels of composure as she slotted past Bolton-Woollam to half the deficit in the 74th , prompting a double substitution as the side hoped to develop on the increased momentum and building atmosphere.
Preston’s side exhibited incredible resilience however, as Mason was instrumental in the closing minutes with her breakaways as Town defended well up until the final corner, with Stuart goals enough to secure a place in the next stage.
Full Time: Accrington Stanley 1-2 Huddersfield Town
Huddersfield will make the trip to the Northeast as they face Championship side Sunderland in the third round, with the visit to South Tyneside an incredible opportunity for the club both on and off of the pitch.
Substitutions:
52′ Mason (McMahon)
62′ Fletcher (Housley)
79′ Firth (Embley)
Goals:
18′ Stuart (Mallin)
62′ Stuart (Mason)
