Town skipper Katie bags players award

HUDDERSFIELD Town Ladies captain Kate Mallin has won a prestigious national award.

First-team skipper Mallin was named Players’ Player of the season for the FA Women’s Premier League Northern and Southern Divisions 2016/17 and was given with her trophy by BBC sports presenter Clare Balding.

However, on the field things were not so rosy as they slipped to their first defeat, losing 2-1 at home to Blackburn Rovers.

Last season’s league champions Rovers had the better of the early exchanges and Town keeper Laura Carter had to make a good save with her feet in the early stages.

Town weathered the storm and gradually started to put more pressure on the Rovers goal and, five minutes before half-time, a corner for the home side ended in a goalmouth scramble with the final effort narrowly off target.

But Town weren’t to be denied and in the 42nd minute Emily Heckler played a great ball over the top and Mallin made no mistake, going round the goalkeeper to put Town ahead.

Town picked up two yellow cards early in the second half and those cautions ultimately changed the game.

With a card each for Annabelle Cass and Cara Bickett, they were each in danger of receiving another and it led to both being substituted.

Mallin almost doubled Town’s lead in the 55th minute when she broke clear but was forced wide by the Rovers keeper.

Rovers equalised on the hour as Saffron Jordan played in Jess Holbrook to tap in and seven minutes later Rovers took the lead from a corner with Kaylea Cunliffe turning the ball home – maintaining Blackburn’s unbeaten start to the season.

Town’s first team are in action on Sunday when they travel to Derby County (2pm).

Town’s development team were 4-0 winners with a fine performance away at Hull City Reserves in the FAWPL Reserve League Cup.

Hull piled on early pressure but Town defended everything thrown at them for the first 20 minutes.

The visitors eventually found their rhythm and took the lead on 25 minutes when Amy Broomhead Patrick Habron from Silverdale Private Hire Holmfirth is pictured with Town Ladies players Annabelle Cass (left) and Millie Turner who he has sponsored for the 2017/18 campaign reacted quickest to a fumble from the City keeper following a Katie Halligan drive.

Town took control of the game and were rewarded when Halligan headed home a corner from Ella Harris to lead 2-0 at halftime.

In the second half City defended for long periods but great work from Broomhead saw her low cross met by substitute Bethany Allen to score her second goal in as many games.

Town keeper Charlotte Kenyon made a good save to deny a City striker from close range, and the visitors guaranteed their name being in the bag for the next round when Allen finished off after Jodie Lodge and Broomhead had linked up to create the chance.

There were strong performances from Amy Battel, Jodie Hunter and Sharone Buckle at the back, with player-of-the-match Rose Priestley being at the centre of every town attack.

Town’s Academy team were 3-2 winners at home to AFC Doncaster Ladies.

It was the Academy team’s second win of the campaign with two goals from Sophie Digua and one from Robyn Harris.

On Sunday they are again at home, against AFC Dronfield (2pm) and will be aiming to back up with another win.