Sanderson sends Town clear at top
HUDDERSFIELD Town beat Middlesbrough 3-2 at the Stafflex Arena to record their eighth consecutive victory and open up a six-point gap to second-place Fylde in the FA Women’s National League.
First-half headers from Brittany Sanderson and Laura Elford - both from Sarah Danby assists - saw the Terriers take control of their final game of 2020 before Sanderson added her second late on.
Shortly before Elford netted Town’s second, the Boro keeper had to be taken off with suspected concussion and, with no reserve on the bench, an outfield player took her place.
But it wasn’t plain sailing for Town as the visitors hit the lefthand post midway through the second half.
Katie Nutter drove down the left and nutmegged her defender before seeing a shot well saved, but the hosts were not to be deterred.
Sanderson - who scored Town’s third in the 4-2 win on Teesside earlier this season was a constant threat and showed her quality again by blasting a free-kick into the top corner of the net to re-instate the two-goal cushion.
And Town thought they’d sealed the victory when Kate Mallin found Laura Elford in the six-yard box, but a sensational save denied a fourth.
Assistant manager Marcus Wilkinson was delighted with the performance, saying: “It was a hard-fought game, but we came through it as a team again and that’s great to see.
“To be six points clear is good, but there’s still a long way to go.”
FANS have wondered whether Ryan Schofield’s good showing against Watford might mean he keeps his place, even if Ben Hamer is fit to return on Boxing Day as expected and