Huddersfield Town Women

The Stafflex Arena, home of Huddersfield Town Women based in Kirkburton, Huddersfield, West Yorkshire and play their trade in the Women’s National League North. Also the home of Shelley Community FC who currently compete in the West Yorkshire League but were in the North West Counties League at Step 6 before their recent resignation but that is a story for another time as today for Mothering Sunday, we are here for Huddersfield Town Women vs West Bromwich Albion Women!!

This ground is also used for junior football cup finals!! I have visited this ground before for that reason!! Does that make me a good coach…? Well we didn’t win so maybe not… But it certainly is a good facility and I will hopefully be back one day wearing the red of Wisewood JFC and hopefully coming back home with a winner’s medal!!

The Sheffield Marathon is certainly causing diversions around the City with my destination arrival time being 2 minutes till kick off… Better get moving! A lovely drive through Emley and right past the Emley Top tower and now for the long drive through the forest into the ground… I’m finally here and the teams are not out yet! Phew! £5 to watch this Women’s National League North tie! Decent! And a free programme to go with it!

Kick Off! 2 minutes in and West Brom play down the right wing, it’s played across low to Rosie Embley who’s running in… She scuffs it and Huddersfield retrieve it and clear the danger. 12 minutes now and West Brom come forward, Stamps has it and gets into the box, she goes for goal… She’s hit the bar!! It’s bounced down but did it cross the line? Nothing from the officials… West Brom not happy! Huddersfield clear for a corner in the meantime. I couldn’t tell if it was over where I was stood but the West Brom bench are telling the assistant Referee to stay in line with play… In comes the corner… Straight into the keeper’s grasp.

2 minutes after and Huddersfield work it forward, it’s played to Britt Sanderson running into the box on the left, she shoots… Keeper saves. 18th minute and Huddersfield play a long ball forward, Britt Sanderson chases it and the keeper comes out… Sanderson gets her head to it… Keeper blocks and collides into her… That must be a Penalty…? Play goes on and Huddersfield get to it and play it back for Ria Montgomery… She misses the ball completely and the Referee stops play for the head injury to Sanderson… Penalty for me! And for the others watching!

Huddersfield are growing more and more into the game as play goes on but it seems the Referee is making a few questionable decisions so far… 28 minutes on the clock and Huddersfield have a throw in on the right, it’s a long one into the box, it’s flicked on to Katie Stanley for the VOLLEY! OH! She’s blazed it over! Big chance!

1 minute later and here come Huddersfield again, Britt Sanderson is through on goal and out comes the keeper… Sanderson gets there first… And she rolls it in!!! Huddersfield have the lead!! Great work there! 1-0!!

34th minute and Huddersfield have the ball at the back… But wait they’ve given it away and here’s Shannon Stamps and she’s through on goal, she goes to place it… But it’s a poor effort and the keeper saves comfortably… Why didn’t she get closer to goal…?

39 minutes now and Huddersfield play down the right, it’s crossed in towards Sanderson for the header… Good save by the keeper! Corner, in it comes… West Brom clear. 42 minutes on the clock and West Brom have a free kick about 35 yards out on the right, Hannah George steps up and she goes for goal… Tipped onto the bar brilliantly by the Huddersfield keeper!! Corner… But the Referee has given a goal kick… West Brom furious! I would be too! A stone wall corner that! Huddersfield lead 1-0 at half time… The West Brom manager speaking to the Referee at half time and rightly so!

Second half, 2 minutes into the second half and Huddersfield come forward, it’s played over the top fr Sanderson who’s onside and through on goal, she shoots… Straight at the keeper! 1 minute later and Huddersfield have a corner, in it comes… Katie Stanley rises up at the back stick… And she heads it home!!! 2-0!! A mountain to climb for West Brom now!

50th minute and Huddersfield are playing with real confidence now! They come forward again and it’s played to Serena Fletcher who gets into the box and shoots… Good save again by the West Brom keeper! Corner, in it comes… Straight out for a goal kick.

The game has slowed down with little chances… Can West Brom mount a fightback here? The Referee isn’t helping either side which is at least consistent. 81 minutes now and Huddersfield have it in the middle, Laura Elford is played through and she’s onside… She’s put it over! Big chance to kill the game there!

2 minutes later and Huddersfield come again, it’s played down the left, played across to katie Stanley… The shot is blocked and it’s a corner for Huddersfield, in it comes… Cleared but Huddersfield win it back, it’s played back to Sanderson on the left and she gets into the box and she goes for goal… Tipped onto the post and Sanderson gets it back… Down she goes… Penalty! Not sure if it is for me… Britt Sanderson steps up… She scores!! 3-0!! That surely is the game for Huddersfield!

Players are ready to resume… But the Referee is taking centre stage here and it’s a sin bin for Leanne Robinson… A word said to the Referee along the lines of “You are embarrassing!” Allegedly… And now the protests continue from the West Brom bench and Hannah George who has also got a Yellow… This is poor from the Referee I have to say! Hannah George continues to question the Referee… It’s a Red Card!! Oh no! The West Brom media man is running over now… I think that decision sums it up for me… West Brom are allowed a sub so will be playing with 10.

Into stoppage time and Huddersfield play down the right, a foul sees them get a free kick, they play it quickly but the Referee stops them… The fans not happy with him today at all! And it’s another booking… West Brom down to 9 now! Shambles! The free kick is played and here’s Paige Crossman who’s in… Offside! She scores anyway… And she’s in the book now!! The Referee has lost control! He blows for full time! That was a struggle…

FT: Huddersfield Town Women 3-0 West Bromwich Albion Women

Ratings

• Atmosphere: 2/10 – Not many in with not any chanting but you could tell there was a crowd there!
• The Ground: 8/10 – I really do like this ground! It’s a great facility for all! Plenty of space at the sides and the stand makes for a great vantage point! Very picturesque at all angles but the stand view is by far the best with Emley Top right in front of you!! It’s a great ground that would be suitable for a higher level in the Men’s game should Shelley Community rise up again!
• Expense: 10/10 – Certainly got my money’s worth today with the controversy!! 3 goals as well and some good football!
• Overall Experience: 7.5/10 – It was a good day and I’m glad I did it! It was a shame that the Referee made the headlines and I don’t personally like criticising Referees as I do it too but there was no need at times unfortunately but it didn’t overshadow a good game thankfully!

27.5/40