TADCASTER 5 v HUDDERSFIELD 3
Huddersfield travelled away to second placed Tadcaster on Saturday still in the promotion mix. Having been on top of their game for their last 2 outings Huddersfield went into the game with a high degree of confidence and they started well. Kullar and Connell looked dangerous and had the measure of the Tadcaster defence. After a fine piece of skill, Kullar won Huddersfield a short corner from which Maddeford slotted home powerfully, this has been an area of Huddersfield’s game that has improved significantly this year and has been a source of a large number of goals. Tadcaster, however always looked dangerous and began to find their game, passing the ball around swiftly and accurately and it wasn’t long before they had their equaliser, a fine team move that cut the Huddersfield defence apart and gave Oli Durrant in the Huddersfield goal no chance. Huddersfield then seemed to lose their way, confusion in defence and clinical finishing from Tadcaster saw them score 4 goals in quick succession. Despite Huddersfield working extremely hard they found it difficult to get hold of the ball and spent most of the remainder of the first half in their half. In a rare break into Tadcasters D Connell won Huddersfield a further short corner from which he followed up well to give the away side a glimmer of hope going into the second half. The second half saw Huddersfield calm things down and play in a far more organised way. Si Waterhouse and Taylor, assisted by Andy Swindells began to cut out Tadcaster attacks and the midfield began to take control, Tadcasters chances were limited and when they did break through Durrant made some good saves. Mills moved up from defence into the midfield and 20 minutes from the end finished a well worked Huddersfield team move at the back post to reduce the deficit. Whilst Huddersfield created further chances they were unable to convert and with 10 minutes remaining the game was effectively finished along with Huddersfield’s realistic chances of promotion. The team have 2 games next weekend in which to make amends and give them a final push to finishing off what will have been a good season.

Huddersfield began their last six games run in to a possible Yorkshire Premier League title against third placed Lincoln away. Without a loss in 12 games Huddersfield were disappointed to come away without a point and they now find themselves in a 3 way dog fight for the title.

Top of the table Huddersfield faced 2nd placed York on Saturday knowing that York had to win to keep up their challenge. So it was no surprise it turned out to be one of their toughest tests of the season. A much stronger York side than the one that Huddersfield defeated 5-3 in York earlier in the season turned up at Lockwood Park and got stuck straight into Huddersfield. It was though a soft goal that Huddersfield conceded as a York forward shot unchallenged into the net.

Huddersfield took last weeks biggest win of the season and followed it up on Saturday with arguably their best win of the campaign. Having lost to Normanby Park away from home earlier in the season with a weakened team Huddersfield were keen to gain revenge and keep their outside promotion chances alive against the side placed second in the table. A good Normanby Park outfit started the brighter of the two teams and were soon applying pressure to the home sides defence. Mills, Maddeford and Waterhouse worked hard to keep them at bay until Huddersfield began creating chances of their own. Beaumont and Connell went close and the Normanby Park keeper made a good save from a well struck Maddeford short corner. It was eventually Normanby Park that broke the deadlock as their talented centre half was allowed to run unchallenged into the D before striking a superb reverse stick shot into the top corner of the goal. Huddersfield, as they have done in lots of games this season, kept their heads and seemed to up the pressure on the away team’s goal. The home side were first to the ball, winning 50:50 challenges and passing the ball between themselves quickly and accurately. Several short corners were won following excellent team moves and one of these resulted in Huddersfield levelling the score as Jonny Beaumont swept in from Brett Kullars pass. The half ended all square with Huddersfield knowing that they would need to continue their high work rate and good team play in order to get a result. This they did and gradually began to take complete control of the game. Normanby Park rarely threatened the Huddersfield goal in the second half, when they got close they were clinically dealt with by the Huddersfield defence, Andy Swindells again having a good game and John Moscrop replacing an unwell James Taylor at sweeper also putting in a good performance. The Huddersfield attack always looked dangerous when going forward and when Gary Waterhouse found Sean Connell free on the 25, Huddersfield took the lead as he drove into the D and turned superbly to fire the ball home. Brett Kullar worked particularly hard and covered a lot of the pitch very effectively helping to keep Huddersfield in control. A short corner 10 minutes from the end settled the result, Chris Abbey finishing well into the bottom corner. Hard work and a great team ethic got Huddersfield a deserved result, this needs to continue next week as they travel to third place Tadcaster.

Hi guys, this is just to remind / inform you that there are two big matches this weekend at Lockwood Park

As your captain should have told you already there are limited tickets for each team this year as we are holding a joint event with the dragons at the George Hotel