Match report: Huddersfield Town 1 - 1 Hartlepool United

Feb 4 2009 by Dougie Thomson, Huddersfield Daily Examiner

TOWN might have beaten the big cold snap but still found themselves frozen out by 10-man Hartlepool.

Boss Lee Clark and the home fans in the 9,294 crowd – impressive on such a bitterly cold evening – were left frustrated as chance after chance again went begging.

Only 160 hardy souls followed the visitors, but they were the ones who left happy as their side survived to secure a point despite the sending off of Daniel Nardiello in the 51st minute for a late challenge on Alex Smithies.

Having intended to keep faith with the side which beat Peterborough, Town boss Lee Clark was forced into a last-minute change after Danny Cadamarteri injured a calf muscle during the warm-up.

Keigan Parker stepped up from the bench with James Berrett being added to the substitutes.

Hartlepool were without key goal-scoring midfielder Andy Monkhouse through suspension.

Former Town centre-back Sam Collins was on the Pools bench.

Nardiello had the first chance in the second minute but shot weakly at Smithies.

But Town, with Lionel Ainsworth looking lively, soon found their rhythm, and the right winger’s eighth-minute run and cross had the Pools defence in trouble, but just evaded the leaping Anthony Pilkington.

Town fans didn’t have long to wait for something to cheer, however.