Match report: Huddersfield Town 1 - 1 Hartlepool United

Feb 4 2009 by Dougie Thomson, Huddersfield Daily Examiner

But they tested Town when Ritchie Jones sent Nardiello clear through on 33 minutes, with the striker shooting just wide under pressure from the backtracking Clarke.

And in the 39th minute, the same combination came up with the equaliser, this time Nardiello feeding Jones with a pass from the left from which the midfielder beat Smithies with a crisp low drive into the keeper’s right-hand corner.

Neat interplay by Ainsworth and Holdsworth set up Jevons as Town tried to hit back immediately, but the frontman fired wide from the edge of the area.

The complexion of the game changed six minutes into the second half when Nardiello was shown a straight red card after leaving Smithies prone with a lunging challenge for what Pools man claimed was a 50:50 ball.

Williams, Clarke, Jevons and Collins all came close as Town tried to quickly press home their numerical advantage.

Pools were defending with spirit, but were almost caught out in the 66th minute when Ainsworth flicked the ball past Humphreys and brought a good save from Aaron Lee-Barrett, who then got down well to deny Pilkington in the 73rd.

There were also late chances for Ian Craney, Parker, Butler and Ainsworth.