Match report: Crewe 3 - 1 Huddersfield Town

Feb 23 2009 by Dougie Thomson, Huddersfield Daily Examiner

The woodwork was rattled again on 21 minutes when striker Clayton Donaldson’s strong break created the room for Tom Pope to take a pass and cut inside on to his left-foot but his measured shot came out of the inside of Smithies’ right-hand post.

However, Town were far from being overrun, but for all the possession they had, clear-cut chances were not readily arriving.

That changed just before the half hour when the impressive Lukas Jutkiewicz crossed and Lionel Ainsworth sent a shot just wide.

Within three minutes Town were in front with Jutkiewicz’s close control seeing him skip past a despairing tackle and produce the perfect pull-back for James Berrett to cooly slot home his first goal of the season.

The lead was short-lived and Crewe were level two minutes later when Town’s defence hesitated dealing with a cross and Moore was able to take a touch before firing in from 15 yards.

The visitors went within inches of taking a lead into the second period when a fine run and cross by Ainsworth allowed Gary Roberts to get a header in on goal but Crewe keeper John Ruddy made a fine reaction save.

Ainsworth made way for Craney early in the second half, but on 58 minutes Alex were handed a confidence boost.

Town’s Andy Butler was caught in possession as he tried to shepherd the ball away in the left back position. Pope stripped him of the ball and then powered into the Town penalty area before delivering the perfect left-foot finish across the face of Smithies.