Match report: Hereford Utd 0 - 1 Huddersfield Town

Mar 30 2009 by Dougie Thomson, Huddersfield Daily Examiner

A TENTH goal of the season for Michael Collins served up a first away win of his managerial career for Town boss Lee Clark.

The midfielder’s composed finish on 72 minutes handed Town a deserved three points to end a seven-match run without a victory – one in which the Terriers have watched their play-off hopes evaporate.

The positives from Edgar Street were numerous, the only negative being this question – where were these kind of performances over the past month and a half?

And Clark prospered because of his bravery in selection for the clash with struggling Hereford.

Nathan Clarke returned in defence in the place of Chris Lucketti, and plainly took being given the captain’s armband to heart as he produced a true leader’s performance.

And the impressive Anthony Pilkington was pressed into service up front and, aside from not managing to score, did everything but as he and Danny Cadamarteri linked to stunning effect on a number of occasions.

But this was not a Town display about individuals, but more about a team ethic finally beginning to sit in place.

From front to back the side worked for one another, they retained their shape through personnel changes and the whole 90 minutes (which has obviously been a recent failing) and they looked hungry to take the game to their opponents.