Match Report: Norton Earn Point Against Title Favourites
Huddersfield Town Women vs Norton & Stockton Ancients FC Ladies
Norton travelled to Huddersfield for the first ever meeting between the two sides. The hosts competed in Tier 3 but relegation saw them drop into Tier 4 for the 2024/2025 campaign. Life for Huddersfield had begun well, winning all three of their opening games, and are most people’s favourites to win the league.
Norton, after an impressive performance against Middlesbrough last Sunday and feeling aggrieved not to have taken all three points, then went to York City midweek and the rollercoaster of a game saw the Ambers lose 6-5 in the cup determining round.
Huddersfield got the game underway and quickly put Norton on the back foot. A couple of early chances fell Huddersfield’s way but Chisnall in the Norton goal wasn’t really called into any action.
Huddersfield, with an overload in midfield, forced wide players Sophie Hodgson and Sophie Curle to work tirelessly for the team coming off the wing and defending in central areas.
Huddersfield continued to dominate possession but Shannon Reed, Louise Atkinson and Chloe West were doing well in the middle of the field getting tackles in to break the play up. It was West that set up Norton’s first chance when she nipped in and robbed the ball in the middle of the pitch but her through ball couldn’t find Sophie Curle.
After 15 minutes of pressure from Huddersfield, Norton began to cause the hosts a few problems. On 25 minutes Norton had a massive shout for a penalty when Sophie Curle’s touch took her past the defender and the defender looked to have fouled her but the referee waved play on.
Growing in confidence, Norton could have taken the lead when Ash Coyle delivered a cross from the right but Bianca Owens’ powerful header flashed wide.
It was Huddersfield’s turn to appeal for a penalty when the forward looked to have turned Georgia Rae before hitting the floor but again the referee was unmoved by the appeals.
Huddersfield’s best chance came when a cross from Norton’s left found the striker and her volley from 12 yards was tipped round the post by a brilliant Chisnall save.
Half Time: Huddersfield Town Women 0-0 Norton & Stockton Ancients Ladies
Norton got the second half underway but were forced into an early change when Sophie Hodgson was unable to continue after suffering what looked to be a nasty knee injury, and was replaced by Eve Marshall.
Huddersfield again had plenty of possession but a stubborn Norton defence kept them at bay. At the other end the Norton counter attack was always a threat; Shannon Reed fired a long range effort just wide and Bianca Owens’ volley was easily dealt with by the Huddersfield keeper.
Norton made the breakthrough on 72 minutes. Chloe West intercepted another Huddersfield attack and fed the ball to Eve Marshall. Marshall played a delightful diagonal pass into the path of the hard working Louise Atkinson who made a 50 yard run, before squaring the ball across the 6 yard box for Norton’s top scorer Bianca Owens to slide home.
Two minutes later and Norton increased their lead with another fine counter attack. Again Chloe West intercepted a Huddersfield pass and played a ball to Louise Atkinson. Atkinson with only one forward pass available found the feet of Bianca Owens 35 yards out. With the defender backing off, Owens let fly with an unstoppable swerving drive that sailed over the keeper’s head and in off the underside of the bar.
Huddersfield made changes and began to throw everything at Norton. Norton made a change of their own with Izzy McEwen replacing the tiring Sophie Curle.
With 8 minutes remaining Huddersfield pulled a goal back when a good bit of football around the Norton penalty area resulted in the forward finding space to slot home.
Huddersfield kept the pressure on and it told when two minutes later, Norton switched off down the left and the forward in the middle reacted quickest and fired a shot low past Chisnall at her near post.
Norton were pinned right back and wave after wave of Huddersfield attack meant there was only one team looking like winning it. Like a tiring boxer, Norton were holding out for the bell. Having survived a number of scares, in the 95th minute Huddersfield swung one more final ball into the far post but it evaded everyone and went behind and Norton had held on to a valuable point.
Full Time: Huddersfield Town Women 2-2 Norton & Stockton Ancients Ladies.
Goal Scorer: Bianca Owens x2
Player of the Match: Louise Atkinson
Norton & Stockton Ancients: Rachel Chisnall, Ash Coyle, Georgia Rae, Vicki Burton, Lucy Jamieson, Chloe West, Shannon Reed, Louise Atkinson, Sophie Hodgson (Eve Marshall 55’), Bianca Owens (C), Sophie Curle (Izzy McEwen 80’)
Unused Subs: Annaleigh Wynn & Pippa Brown