Oldham Athletic 2, Huddersfield Town 1

Dec 13 2004 By The Huddersfield Daily Examiner

It was a catalyst for a fine all-round contribution from the 22-year-old frontman and Town, with Brandon and Worthington raiding smartly, had the better chances after that.

But it was Oldham who got the vital break after 37 minutes.

David Eyres, at 40, found space down the left and cut back to provide an inswinging near-post cross which Chris Killen flicked to the back post, where Kevin Betsy beat Mirfin and Rachubka with a neat overhead kick.

Town re-grouped during half time and, when an equaliser wasn't looking likely after the opening stages of the second period, Jackson made a positive double substitution which made Oldham look decidedly shaky.

Off went defenders Mirfin and Lloyd to be replaced by Mendes and Danny Schofield, who was very unfortunate not to earn a penalty when Holden appeared to clearly handle the ball.

Mendes made an immediate impact, creating a simple chance for Tony Carss on his left foot only for the midfielder to miscue his shot across goal.

The Montserrat frontman then saw another drive somehow blocked by the keeper while Abbott went close twice, firstly with a raking shot and secondly with a near-post thunderbolt which Pogliacomi would have dropped over the line but for Hughes' presence.

Town, with Efe Sodje and Nathan Clarke both playing well at the back, piled on the pressure after that and, while Sodje blazed one effort over the bar after mayhem in the box, it seemed certain the Oldham defence would eventually crack.

They didn't.

Oldham, in fact, created one or two problems of their own, particularly through Adam Griffin on the break.

Town were relieved when the left-back opted to shoot instead of square the ball when romping to the goalline on the left, while there were shots off target from gritty midfield duo Neil Kilkenny and Hughes.