Match report: Huddersfield Town 0 - 1 Southend United
Apr 6 2009 by Dougie Thomson, Huddersfield Daily Examiner
After an initial flurry by the home side, when Cadamarteri had a shot blocked by Clarke and another saved by Steve Mildenhall, Southend started to dictate, and in the remainder of the first half, there was precious little for home fans in the 12,203 to get excited about.
It was more a question of whether Southend could be kept out as Theo Robinson had a cross-cum-shot held by Smithies, Clarke headed just wide from Moussa’s corner and on-loan Liverpool defender Martin Kelly, making his home debut at left-back, cleared from Damian Scannell.
Andy Butler then blocked Robinson’s shot before, in time added on, Alan McCormack’s drive flew just over.
Hopes of a better second half were raised when Mildenhall had to stretch to palm away Pilkington’s low shot just four minutes in.
But Southend should have taken the lead just a minute later when Robinson beat Smithies to a loose ball just outside the Town penalty area.
The on-loan Watford man forced his way past Butler but with Tom Clarke the only man back, contrived to shoot wide with the goal gaping.
Town continued to look vulnerable as Dervite was left unmarked to meet Francis’s free-kick, however his header failed to test Smithies.
Whistler Webster waved away Town’s penalty appeals when Roberts tumbled after beating Dervite soon after, and there was further frustration when Ainsworth worked his way into the area and shot low, only for Clarke to divert the ball for a corner.
Good interplay between Francis, Scannell and Robinson ended with Moussa’s hooked effort bring held by Smithies, and it was a whipped cross from the same player which brought Southend their breakthrough spot kick.
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