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Next Game: Banbury Away On Friday March 29th Kick-Off 3.00pm

Saturday, December 20, 2008

Huddersfield humble hearty Hereford

Huddersfield Town got their Lee Clark era under way with a 2-0 home victory over Hereford United this afternoon at the impressive Galpharm Stadium. The Bulls created a host of chances at the start of either half but failed to convert any of them. United were ultimately punished by their hosts when Nathan Clarke scored from close-range and the advantage was doubled when Gary Roberts finished a flowing move.

The Bulls were unchanged following on from their two match unbeaten run although Robbie Threlfall returned to the bench in place of Clint Easton, after a lengthy period out injured. Huddersfield included three ex Accrington men in their starting line-up with Roberts joining Robbie Williams and Ian Craney. Keigan Parker returned after a three match ban with former Everton striker Danny Cadamarteri having to be content with a place on the bench.

The away side made a lively start to the game with Josh Gowling nearly scoring his first goal for the club; Lionel Ainsworth sent in a corner which was nodded on and at the back-post Gowling headed towards goal and was only denied by a goal-line clearance. Richard Rose had a powerful effort blocked before Andy Williams sliced over the rebound whilst a Guinan header, this time from a Done corner, was held by the impressive Huddersfield ‘keeper Alex Smithies. The home side came into the game and soon started creating chances of their own with Jim Goodwin hitting the side-netting with a placed effort after good hold-up work from Parker. Goodwin then turned provided as he sent in a deep cross which was met the back-post by R. Williams but his header was denied by a fine save from Craig Samson as he pushed the ball over the bar.

The Scottish ‘keeper was again the hero moments later as Roberts sent an in swinging corner with Clarke meeting it in the area but once more, Samson made an excellent close-range save. The former Ipswich man was starting to get into the game and he sent a shot into the body of Samson, before setting up Craney who shot wildly into the away fans. The combative central midfield man went a little closer with his next effort however, as a pass from Parker made its way to Craney and he fired just over from 20 yards. United looked threatening on the break and a snapshot effort from Guinan from all of 30 yards had Smithies scrambling to hold the shot.

The home side continued to press with Roberts running at the Bulls’ back-line, eventually turning past Beckwith before curling just past the far-post with his un-favoured right-foot.Two neat passing moves, a highlight of Huddersfield’s play, resulted in chances for both R. Williams and Roberts once again but Samson was on hand to make routine saves. Clarke ventured forward from the back to skip past Toumani Diagouraga but gave a ‘defender’s finish’ as he failed to trouble Samson whilst at the other end, Dean Beckwith headed at Smithies from an Ainsworth corner. The Terriers won a corner of its own and it wasn’t cleared, falling nicely to Roberts whose control set him up for a strike which he hit truly but it went just over. In the final moments, Hereford had arguably their best chance of the half with Ainsworth instrumental in a superb counter-attack; the Watford loanee used some tricks to get Hereford out of trouble at the back, before bringing both Guinan and A. Williams into play whilst continuing his run. The ball made its way to Ainsworth down the right-wing and in front of the back-line but he decided to take the shot a little early and sent it just past the near post.

The Bulls came out in the second-half in confident fashion and dominated the opening proceedings to silence the vocal home support. A. Williams used his body to spin past a defender before touching past another but he couldn’t beat the ‘keeper from 20 yards as Smithies denied his powerful strike. Ainsworth was the danger man, as has been the case in the last two matches, playing a one-two with Guinan before breaking into the box but he couldn’t keep his composure as he blasted over from a fine position. A beautiful left-footed cross from Kris Taylor was flicked onto the roof of the net by Guinan at the near-post before a looped cross from Ainsworth was tamely headed wide by A. Williams. In a carbon copy of the earlier chance, Taylor again whipped in a superb cross for Guinan with this time the experienced striker heading, under pressure, inches past the back-post. Phil Jevons replaced James Berrett as Clark added another attacking threat to his team and the former Bristol City man nearly made an instant impact as he headed just over after good-work on the wing from Roberts.

Guinan picked out a decent pass to release Matty Done down the wing and he crossed into the danger-area where Ainsworth popped up at the back but his half-volley was hit into the ground and was easy for Smithies. Guinan was also involved in setting-up Ben Smith after good hold-up work, the Bulls’ captain smashed goal wards with Smithies finger-tips diverting it over. United were denied a penalty after A. Williams appeared to be tripped inside the area but the referee turned down the strong appeals; he did however send John Trewick to the stands for his protests. Cadamarteri took to the field in place of Craney and was involved as Huddersfield broke the deadlock. Taylor had deflected a shot from Parker out for a corner and after this was cleared, the lack of players up-field for United contributed to it coming straight back into the box; Cadamarteri found room on the right-wing and crossed into a superb area where Guinan tried his best to head it clear but it went straight to Clarke who tucked in from close-range.

It appeared to be the story of Hereford’s season, too many chances not taken and teams then going onto punish them. The Whites had a golden chance to equalise but failed to take it; Taylor again gave an excellent option on the wing by crossing and it made its way to Ainsworth who saw a powerful right-foot effort parried before the re-bound was sliced just wide from a stretching Guinan. Clarke tried his best to double his goal tally for the day but a header was denied by Samson. Parker curled past the far-post after turning 25 yards out before the Terriers doubled their lead. Roberts and Jevons linked up superbly down the left-hand side and into the box before the ball made its way to the winger who made no mistake by powerfully toe-poking past the despairing dive of Samson.

Credit must be handed to Hereford who kept on going with Guinan having a 20 yard shot pushed behind by Smithies whilst Parker dragged a shot past the post at the other end. A. Williams was nearly rewarded when he closed down a sloppy back-pass to challenge the ‘keeper but the ball deflected off the striker and bounced just over the open goal. Simon Johnson and Nick Chadwick came on for A. Williams and Done late on and the pair linked-up to release Chadwick but the former Plymouth striker saw his shot deflect wide. Jon Worthington came on for Parker before in stoppage time, Taylor saw his curling free-kick from 25 yards well saved by Smithies.

Under the guidance of the new manager and the backing of the majority of the 13,070 crowd, Huddersfield came through a tricky test although the away following of 214 will be encouraged by Hereford’s performance. If United had managed to get the first-goal, the game could have taken a much different path but the killer instinct still appears to be lacking up front. For all A. Williams hard-work up top, he rarely looks like he will pop up with a goal. Next up United is the Boxing Day visit of Tranmere Rovers, before a trip to league leaders Leicester City two days later.

Hereford: Samson, Rose, Gowling, Beckwith, Taylor, Ainsworth, Diagouraga, Smith, Done, Guinan, Williams.

Subs: Broadhurst, Threlfall, Gwynne, Johnson, Chadwick.

Huddersfield: Smithies, Berrett, ,N. Clarke, Goodwin, Butler, Williams, Holdsworth, Craney,Collins, Parker, Roberts.

Subs: Glennon, Worthington, T. Clarke, Jevons, Cadamarteri.