LEEDS ADEL CARNEGIE 1 v HUDDERSFIELD 3XI 3
Huddersfield made it 3 wins from 3 games against their nearest title challengers, after defeating league leaders Sheffield, second placed Ramgharia then a frustrating two week interruption due to weather it was a trip to now second placed York. In driving rain and icy weather it was always going to be a case of which team wanted it most. Huddersfield went into the game losing three key players (two with food poisoning) leaving just 11 players against York’s large bench of subs who rolled on and off throughout the match. York started much stronger and the early pressure told when they opened the scoring after having most of the play. Huddersfield kicked into gear after this and had an awesome spell where they scored three goals in fifteen minutes. First Jimmy Swinden surged through and forced the ball past the keeper then turned provider and picked out the pacy Courtney to slot past the keeper. A well worked short corner routine ended with taker Peachey stroking home. York were shell shocked and really couldn’t find their early fluency with Kelly and debutant and Man of the Match Buckley breaking up the play well. As the end of the half approached Swinden again picked out a Courtney run who slid the ball into a diving Hirst to beat the keeper to the ball. 4-1 and a stunning performance. The second half was colder still and hard work for the 11 of Huddersfield as York were able to bring on fresh legs and as the half went on tiredness lead to defensive mistakes , goalkeeper Howarth was called on a number of times to save the Huddersfield defence. York pulled one back after a period of pressure and Huddersfield found themselves restricted to break away attacks and could not hold onto the ball. With ten minutes to go York got to within one as the Huddersfield defence gave possession away cheaply but then Huddersfield found something left in the tank to create some forward pressure and force a short corner. Swinden and Hirst played a neat one two and Swinden provided the games winning touch to finally break York. After so little play recently Huddersfield will be disappointed to have no game until January 10th but go into the second half of the season well positioned in third place four points behind and with three games in hand on leaders Sheffield.
Huddersfield’s superb run came to a disappointing end at the hands of Normanby Park in a very cold and wet Scunthorpe. Huddersfield travelled to their last game before Christmas with a depleted side and having had games over the last 2 weekends cancelled were always going to struggle against a side who have managed to fulfil all their league fixtures so far. Having said that, Huddersfield started quite brightly and passed the ball around well, good chances fell to man of the match Nicky Elson and Sean Connell, both were unlucky not to convert. Normanby Park gradually worked their way into the game and it was only some good defending from Taylor and Mills and some fine saves from Oli Durrant that kept the home side at bay. Further chances fell to Huddersfield as the ball was drilled across the D past the back post on several occasions, unfortunately the away side were not quick enough to react and it was Normanby Park who took the lead as a powerful shot from the top of the D was deflected past Durrant. Huddersfield kept their heads and a superb short corner strike from Maddeford shortly after levelled the scores. Huddersfield maintained their pressure and a Hindmarsh free hit across the D found Connell who flicked passed the keeper. Huddersfield maintained their lead up to half time but Normanby Park were unlucky not to have levelled the scores and were gradually taking a grip on the game. The second half was pretty much all Normanby Park, Huddersfield were further depleted when Connell had to leave the field with a nasty cut to his nose and they struggled to get out of their own half. Normanby Parks pressure soon told and they levelled as Huddersfield failed to clear their lines, they then took the lead from a short corner, the resulting drag flick going in off the cross bar. Huddersfield looked sluggish and their passing game from the first half all but disappeared. The inevitable fourth goal that killed the game off was scored 10 minutes from the end. An unfortunate way to go into the Christmas and New Year break but the team will come back strong in the second half of the season with promotion hopes still high.
Yet more disappointment for the 5th team as we were thrashed 7-1. However this doesn’t fully reflect what happened in the game as we had a fair amount of possession. Huddersfield started well enough, but let a few goals in on the break. Wakefield were also awarded a penalty flick which meant we were 4-0 by half time. Reedy changed things around for the second half but unfortunately this didn’t work. Wakefield scored three more goals despite having a player sent off. Huddersfield ended on a positive note with Karl Bland scoring from a penalty corner. We’ll be better next week!
Huddersfield recorded back to back victories against the league’s top two sides and in doing so pushed themselves into second place just two points behind the leaders with a game in hand. However at half time 1-0 down and having looked decidedly off colour things could have been very different. Ramgharia set out very clearly to defend and try and hit Huddersfield on the break and even though Huddersfield look very ragged they still managed to create a sack full of chances none of which they managed to convert. The Ramgharia keeper was up to anything thrown at him and the remainder of the chances were woefully off target. Huddersfield pushed further and further forward and were left exposed by Ramgharia’s considerable skill one on one at the back on a number of occasions and had it not been for a lack of composure from the opposition forwards they could have found themselves well behind. Paul Howarth in the Huddersfield did well with some last ditch saves but was beaten in the end as Ramgharia did break the deadlock to go in at the break a goal to the good. The second half was a different story as Huddersfield played with increased confidence, Jimmy Swinden opened the scoring from a short corner and brought a huge change to the Huddersfield performance. Sharper passing and better movement threatened to overrun Ramgharia’s defence as Peachey scored from another well worked short corner and Kelly scored his first of the season. When Jimmy Swinden rounded off a man of the match performance with a superb solo effort Ramgharia were well beaten. They did get a late consolation as the defence fell asleep but the game was won and Huddersfield should be very pleased with a show of character to turn a poor performance and deficit into a result that keeps them firmly in the title hunt.
Huddersfield needed to be at their best to inflict the first defeat of the season on league leading Sheffield Bankers and after 3 games without a win they delivered their most impressive performance of the season. Only Huddersfield themselves had outscored Sheffield but Huddersfield were so solid they rarely had a sniff of goal in the first half and they were clearly rattled by Huddersfield’s work rate and commitment. Hirst grabbed the first goal after good work down the right from Foo and it was nothing less than they deserved after a dominant display. In fact Huddersfield should have got to half time at least 3 goals to the good with Foo missing a penalty after Jimmy Swinden had a goal bound shot illegally denied by the defender and Kaye missing a good chance. The second half saw Sheffield step up but unlike in recent games Huddersfield found another gear and rose to the challenge. Poor finishing meant they couldn’t capitalize until Kaye scored a superb individual goal making up for his earlier misses. Jimmy Swinden then capped a fine display when he looped the ball over the keeper after beating two men. 3 – 0 did not flatter Huddersfield with more chances going begging. The excellent Gregory unluckily went in the sin bin late on for Huddersfield and they conceded a consolation whilst down to ten men but they were just too strong to let Sheffield back in the match with Kelly bossing the midfield and the back four of Hannam, Mark Swinden, Peachey and Beatson looking rock solid. This was the an outstanding performance that if repeated regularly could see Huddersfield challenge for top spot. They currently lie third and face second placed Ramgharia next week
