Halifax Women suffer cup defeat to rivals Huddersfield
Halifax FC Women fell to defeat in their final game of the Women’s National League Cup, losing 2-1 at home to Huddersfield Town.
Goals from Jess Lightfoot and Aimee Kelly sealed the three points for the visitors, with Neve Renwick’s second League Cup goal ultimately proving fruitless for The Fax.
After a bright Halifax start, Huddersfield took the lead within 20 minutes, with Kate Mallin bringing the ball down and sliding it through for Lightfoot, who made no mistake in rolling the ball under Heidi Morgan in the Halifax goal.
Despite being a goal down at the break, Halifax started the second half flying, with Sienna Limbert playing a lovely through ball into Renwick, who smashed home to level it up with only 49 minutes on the clock.
The decisive goal then came with 25 minutes remaining, when Kelly latched onto a long ball over the top, and beautifully lofted the ball over a helpless Morgan.
Halifax had plenty of chances to come out of the game with something. The most notable was substitute Farah Crompton playing the ball across the six yard box for Renwick to attack, but Huddersfield goalkeeper Bethan Davies was able to come and smother the ball, taking a clattering in the process.
Izzy Mawby also had a chance to continue her sparkling league cup form, but she too saw her attempt smartly saved by Davies.
As the game ticked on into the final 10 minutes, Halifax grew to dominate, with Crompton slicing just wide, as well as Eva Buckley hitting the side netting from distance.
Huddersfield did have more chances of their own, particularly at the end of the first half. Town saw strikes from Lauren Griffiths, Mallin and Autumn Housley all fly over the crossbar.
Outside of the goals, Huddersfield’s biggest chance came when Ella Duffield lashed the ball towards the top corner from the edge of the area, and if not for a decisive header over the crossbar by Halifax captain Anna Phillips, the visitors would have been two goals to the good before half time.
Despite the defeat, Halifax will be reasonably pleased with their performance, with the opportunities and chances created against a top tier three side, but manager Rob Mitchell may be slightly disappointed with the team’s lack of cutting edge in the final third.
As for Glen Preston’s side, this win secures progression to the FA WNL plate, finishing second in the group.
Up next for Halifax is a big FA Cup third round qualifying clash on Sunday (2pm), when they welcome York City to Myra Shay, while Huddersfield travel away to Wellbeing Park, to face Stoke City in the Northern Premier Division.