Huddersfield Town 2, Blackpool 0

Jan 16 2006 By Mel Booth, The Huddersfield Daily Examiner

Danny Schofield had his resulting penalty blocked by keeper Lee Jones but, when the classy winger followed up to score, it was the first time in 23 years that Town had had four men in double figures in the same season.

Town's football deserved more than just the two goals, but they were delighted with a clean sheet and performed with a fluency which has eluded them of late.

The only worries for manager Peter Jackson - who played Sunderland loan signing Dan Smith from the bench late on - were groin injuries which forced off senior players Martin McIntosh and Andy Booth.

Tosh lasted 39 minutes while Booth didn't reappear for the second half after a towering performance in the first 45 minutes when he won everything in the air and barely wasted a pass.

With Clarke and Worthington in charge, there was too much space for Schofield and Chris Brandon (who had an excellent game) down the flanks and Town were already well on top when Clarke broke the deadlock on nine minutes, touching home with the outside of his right boot.

It was a shame against such woeful opposition that Pawel Abbott couldn't end his own goal drought, but when he overran a Booth flick after only five minutes when clean away it summed up his current frustration - and prompted the manager to kick the drinks container on the touchline.

Abbott had a couple of other decent efforts - a volley being the best - while Clarke's raiding brought him a couple of half chances and the makings of a chant from the Kilner Bank, who answered the manager's call with terrific support throughout the 90 minutes.

Paul Rachubka produced a fine tip-over to deny a Murphy header and, typical of Town, after the stadium emergency siron had gone off three times, they had a big alarm of their own when Keith Southern sent Keigan Parker racing in for a shot which beat Rachubka and also the outside of a post.

Sub Gary Taylor-Fletcher suffered exactly the same fate for Town after excellent work by Andy Holdsworth 15 seconds into the second half and there were cracking shots to follow from Holdsworth and the lively Worthington as Town carried on turning the screw.