Brighouse Athletic v Hepworth United Ladies

Hepworth made the short trip to Brighouse Athletic looking to bounce back from last weeks disapointing performance. The team were determined to impress and get back to winning ways and prove to ex player Lisa Parry moving to Brighouse was the wrong decision. From the start Hepworth were focussed and set about their task well and went on the attack Abigail Iggleden being a constant threat and and causing problems for the home side. Iggleden thought she was due a penalty early on as a Brighouse defender constantly kicked at her heals and had the marks to show it. However the match official seemed oblivious to this and more blatant fouls on KIm Antonio and Captain Kirsty McCluskey as the game went on. Both had the marks and bruises to show for it as did several Brighouse players as they both exchanged physical challenges mainly due to the referee who just didnt seem to want to take charge and use his authority to control matters. Despite this it was a good game and Hepworth were the better footballing team on the day with some good flowing football being played and the home side relying on long balls for the speedy forwards to run onto. Hepworth's back four of Lauren Brown, Lucy Page, Rebecca Purchon and Lauren Pashley for the main dealt with this with ease and often snuffed out the pass with great defending and using Rebecca Harper for well placed back passes. Generally good all round comunication between them all linked with good movement meant they could build from the back and pass and move the ball around with Jo Forrest and Kim Antonio controlling the midfield. On the wings Kirsty McCluskey and Lucy Pickles kept teasing Brighouse down the flanks and both ran their selves into the ground for their team. Little Hannah Nicholl again battled much bigger opponents in every way but stuck to her task while Abigail Iggleden tore their defence apart often with her pace. It was however the home side that broke the deadlock against the run of play on 17 mins to go 1-0 up.
The lead was short lived as on 26 mins a Lucy Pickles through ball to Iggleden saw her beat two defenders and race clear to score, Hepworth created many more chances but just couldnt find the net. Jo Forrest went close as did Pickles McCluskey, Antonio but 1-1 and all equal at half time. The second half was a similar pattern of Hepworth pressing their opponents back and Brighouse having to counter attack. Hepworth forcing many corners but not taking advantage and were just unable to convert all their pressure and chances. Then against the run of play Brighouse took the lead again when hepworth failed to judge the flight of a long ball and it skimmed of a defenders head for the striker to lob over the advancing Rebecca Harper. The signs were all good as hepworth players rallied themselves and spurred each other on with their belief they were the better team and would drag themselves back level. plenty of toil and hard graft saw them attack and attack but they just couldnt get the break through but it was just a matter of time. so one sided it was that Brighouse didnt get their first corner till midway through the second half. Hepworth did have a 10 minute period where they looked a little wobbly but fair play to each and everyone of the squad they regained their dominance and finally on 88 minutes Iggleden returned the favour for Lucy Pickles with a great run and cross for Pickles to smash home the equaliser 2-2 with 2 minutes to go plus 3 minutes added time due to stopages. Assistant Manager Abi Tunnacliffe would have at this point settled for a point but Hepworth went for the kill and in the 94th minute McCluskey broke down the right flank her cross into the six yard box saw Pickles, Iggleden, and Nicholl all pressure the defender who miskicked the ball and back heeled it into her own net to put Hepworth 2-3 up. From the kick off Hepworth quickley regained the ball and McCluskey raced clear of two defenders and with the keeper to beat fired high over the bar, but it wasnt to matter as the final whistle was blown and the Hepworth "Barmy Army" and players went mental.
This was a great performance and the Management and supporters were full of praise for their team having given an outstanding performance and showing great team spirit. The Keystone Europe Ltd Player of the Match was won by Lucy Pickles after a great goal an assist and her all round exceptional performance.