Huddersfield 2nd Half

By: Tony Butcher
Date: 14/10/2000

Huddersfield made two changes at half time, taking off a full back and Thornley (Moan Utd reject). Within 30 seconds the substitution should have brought the equaliser. Huddersfield won a throw in, on the Town right, under the Smiths/Stones/Findus.

2nd half

Only Donovan stood near the thrower (Sellars), so there were two of them and only Donovan. The ball was thrown in and headed back to Sellars, who played a one two and was left with several minutes to decide exactly which follicle on the right winger's head he would place his cross onto. Fortunately for Town the winger was bald. The cross was flatish and fast to the far post where Baldry (the shaven-headed sub) stooped down and, from about 5 yards out near the corner of the 6 yard box, headed firmly into the ground. The ball bounced over the bar. Warning lights were a-flashing, with the siren blaring out. Surely Town would tighten up.

2 minutes later Huddersfield played a "channel ball" over Butterfield for Smith and Groves to chase. Groves was out fought and wrestled away from the ball by Smith, who was alone inside the area. Coyne rushed off his line and the shot cannoned away off his shins. A couple of minutes later Huddersfield broke away down the Town right. The ball was played to Gallen in his own half. He turned and simply ran at the Town defence, running directly at goal and beating a couple of defenders. He got into the penalty area and, from about 15 yards, to the right of goal, tried to curl a precise low shot around Coyne into the left hand corrner. Coyne flung himself to his left and just managed to get his fingertips to the shot and deflect the ball a couple of inches wide of the left hand post. And it's not over yet. A few minutes later Huddersfield won a free kick on the Town left, about 29 yards out, a few feet in from the touchline. Sellars hit an inswinging free kick to the far post where three big Huddersfield defenders jumped with Groves just inside the 6 yards box. One of them (I don't know who and don't care) headed firmly and down, but straight to where Coyne was. How many times do I have to say "phew".

I'll have to say it again as after about 20 minutes or so Huddersfield got a corner on the Town left. It was swung hard to the near post area, whereupon it was flicked towards the back post, with Coyne stuck in the middle of his area. The ball reached Gallen, unmarked, about 2 foot from the far post. His volley hit a couple of Town players on the line, a wall of flesh, with Butterfield being the fleshiest.

But wait, there's more. Another "channel ball" down the left saw Smith roll past Groves (I think) and have a clear shot at goal, from a narrow angle about 8 yards out. He steadied himself and hit a shot across goal and out for a goal kick. It slowly trickled over the line about 1 yard from the corner flag. Town really hadn't done much at all in the second half and after about 65ish minutes Pouton was replaced by D Smith. This resulted in Coldicott finally going to centre midfield where he played a lot, lot better. Back to his trademark gung-ho tackling. D Smith's contribution? I can't lie to you, but he has my sympathy. Let's just say he isn't match fit (physically or mentally). The change made Town a little more solid and stopped most of the really hairy moments. It also coincided with a period when Town made some isolated attacks, though it may be more accurate to add that Town's danger quotient increased exponentially when Neilsen was eventually brought on for Livingstone.

This happened in about the 70th minute. He didn't touch the ball for two minutes, but in that two minutes had looked like someone who could run fast. His jogging was considerably quicker than some of our players normal sprinting speed. And then he did touch the ball. He won a challenge, knocking the ball to D Smith (I think), he received the ball back, turned and laid a first time ball through to the on-rushing Campbell. Campbell ran on and, from the edge of the area, had a shot which was saved easily. Nielsen's next contribution got the Town faithful jumping up and down in near ecstasy. He chased a "channel ball" down the right, out-fought the defender on the touch-line and sprinted towards the area. He was wrestled to the ground just outside the area, near the bye-line. He got up and continued into the area, rolled back to Allen about 8 yards out. Unfortunately it was just a little behind Allen, who turned and completely miss-hit his shot, which dribbled slowly into the arms of the 'keeper. The pace and aggression displayed was all we'd been promised.

Allen had a couple more noteworthy efforts His first (which may have been just before Neilsen came on) was after he chased a ball down the right and hit a first time dipping volley from about 20 yards out to the right of goal, about 15 yards out. The 'keeper tipped the ball over for a corner at his near post. In the last 10 minutes Allen was played in with just the 'keeper to beat, to the right of goal. His shot was pushed aside for another corner. The 'keeper came out very quickly so, on balance, it was a good save rather than a bad miss. The only other dangerous moments created by Town were in these last few minutes. Neilsen crossed just a little too high for D Smith the far post (after a pacy break) and Donovan beat his full back and whipped in a fast cross to Neilsen at the far post. It was just a little high and Neilsen was a couple of inches away from the ball.

With only a minute or so to go, Huddersfield had another virtual open goal. I think it may have been from a corner which was only half cleared. The ball was crossed back in from the Town right to a centre back, about 4 yards out, unmarked, at the far post. He stooped down and headed the ball over the bar. It took great skill to avoid scoring. Clare replaced Allen with a couple of minutes left.

2 minutes and 28 seconds after the board was put up saying 2 minutes left the referee ended the game. A lot a "phew" moments but, oddly, Huddersfield never looked like scoring. Which is very lucky considering they had 3 free headers within the 6 yard box, an open goal and two other golden opportunities with one-on-ones with Coyne. Generally Town looked a bit more cohesive (despite Coldicott being put on the left in the first hour). Most players stood in the right places, mostly. There were periods of play when Town looked dangerous and the occasional pass with movement. Livvo was all deftness and subtlety (as opposed to his usual daftness and cloddishness), though he only seemed to last 30 minutes. Allen moved around well and looked a bit sharper and more confident than previously this year. Campbell played well, Handyside was superb with the ball, he just needs to get a bit faster. The big news and big noise is Neilsen. He lived up to the advance publicity in his brief 20 minute cameo performance. It was reminiscent of Dave Gilbert's first game for us. The first time he touched it a low murmur went round Blundell Park. "He's playing for us!" Usually that isn't a compliment, it is now.

A win, quite fortunate and very similar to the win we had against them 2 years ago. They had loads of chances but never, ever looked like scoring. Are we going to care about that?

NickO's Man of the Match - Mr Danny Coyne - safe handling all afternoon. Caught some corners, confidently left his line and two or three really good saves. Saved Town.

Tony Butcher

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