Stanfield screamer completes late comeback for Town
Huddersfield Town came from behind to win 2-1 away at Barnsley on a cold Thursday night.
Town skipper Beth Stanfield’s audacious strike sealed the win for Glen Preston’s side after a resilient second half performance.
First Half
The game began as a scrappy affair with neither side being able to control possession, but Town soon grew into the game pinning Barnsley in their own half.
Winger Leah Embley kept finding space out wide and managed to hit some crosses into the Barnsley box but to no avail.
Despite the pressure from Town, it was Barnsley who got the first big chance of the game. Defender Victoria Chincharo’s header rattled the crossbar with Town keeper Lauren Joyce rooted.
Both sides looked to play on the counter when possible, Serena Fletcher pulling off some great last-ditch tackles to deny the Barnsley attacks.
A chance late in the half fell to Embley after a brilliant move by Katie Astle on the left split open the Barnsley defence. The eventual shot from Embley though drifted wide.
Astle then went down with an injury after what looked like a nasty collision with the Barnsley keeper but both players managed to carry on.
After a few half chances and a bit of scrappy flurry of attacks from the home side, the referee blew his whistle bringing to an end what was an end-to-end half of football.
Half Time: Barnsley 0-0 Huddersfield Town
Second Half
Similar to the first half, Town took control after the break and put Barnsley under pressure.
An early chance fell to Astle after a well delivered ball from Stansfield caught out the Barnsley defence. Ultimately though the striker was unable to get a clean shot off.
After being put under pressure, Barnsley striker Jodie Gregory looked to be played clean through on goal after a run splitting the Town defence, but it was a brilliant recovery from Yas Mason as she managed to get back and stop any threat on goal.
Barnsley managed to withstand the early pressure from Town and nick a goal against the run of play. A ball into the box from Louise Biggins found the foot of Gregory whose slight touch managed to go in looping over the head of Joyce.
Shortly afterwards the referee and his officials were left with a big decision as it appeared Town had drawn level after a well worked freekick. Caz Simone flicked on the initial delivery to the back post where a flurry of Town shots were fired with one of those seemingly over the line, but it was not given.
The Barnsley substitute keeper pulled off an incredible double save to keep her side ahead and despite the calls from the Town players that the ball had crossed the line, the referee and his linesmen waved play on.
Town didn’t have to wait long to finally get their equaliser though. It was brilliant play from Mason on the left-hand side as she knocked it past the Barnsley fullback to put in a great delivery.
Astle was there waiting in the box for the tidy finish and Town were deservedly back level.
With momentum on their side Town began to pile on the pressure again, not letting the hosts out their own half and winning all the second balls.
It was a moment of brilliance that saw Huddersfield take the lead. After Barnsley thought they had cleared their lines from a Town cross, the ball fell to skipper Stanfield on the edge of the box.
Controlling the ball on the bounce, Stanfield strikes perfectly on the half volley, sending the ball flying into Barnsley goal and Glenn Preston’s side were ahead with just over 10 minutes to go.
Preston threw on all the subs late on to see out a big three points against their Yorkshire rivals.
After a brilliant second half performance Town were going home with a thoroughly deserved win and all three points.
Full Time: Barnsley 1–2 Huddersfield Town
Town are back at home on Sunday 16th February as they host Handsworth in the County Cup.
Substitutions:
64′ Bethany Ibbotson (Caz Simone)
73′ Rebecca Beresford (Leah Embley)
85’ Ashley Tiripke (Yas Mason)
86’ Scarlett McMahon (Katie Astle)
89’ Molly Firth (Kate Mallin)
Goals:
59’ Jodie Gregory (Louise Biggins)
70’ Katie Astle (Yas Mason)
78’ Beth Stanfield
Match Report: Tom Hennigan
