Huddersfield Town report: Scunthorpe 1 Town 2

Apr 11 2009 by Dougie Thomson, Huddersfield Daily Examiner

TOWN ARE TOO HOT TO HANDLE

TOP scorer Gary Roberts made it 11 goals for the season as battling Town dented Scunthorpe United’s play-off ambitions with a deserved win.

The winger shot home sweetly in the 54th minute to record Town’s fourth ‘double’ of the campaign after the sides traded goals in the first half.

Town were chasing their third away win in a row and their first league victory in Scunthorpe since 1977.

Town manager Lee Clark made one change bringing in fit again left back Rob Williams for Lionel Ainsworth and switched Liverpool loanee Martin Kelly to right back to move Tom Clarke into midfield in a 4-5-1 line up.

Town were up against a Scunthorpe side that included former Terriers defender David Mirfin at centre back after he was ruled fit after a late test following being concussed in the Johnstone Paints Trophy final defeat against Luton Town last weekend.

Town produced the first cogent attack after only 90 seconds when left winger Roberts’ cross was cleared but only as far as Williams whose well struck shot was parried by Iron keeper Joe Murphy.

The United keeper was again in action in the seventh minute saving well from Danny Cadamarteri after anincisive break by ex-Scunthorpe midfielder Jim Goodwin.

The Irishman, making his 250th league appearance, was being booed at every touch by the home fans, but Goodwin seemed to be relishing the contest.

On loan Arsenal midfielder Henri Lansbury was an impressive performer for the home side, but when he got into a good position on 14 minutes he couldn’t keep his shot down.

Michael Collins played a neat one-two with Anthony Pilkington on 17 minutes but his shot went across the face of goal and wide.

The travelling Town fans got a surprise when the home side took the lead on 19 minutes when Martyn Woolford made the most of a half chance after picking the ball up on the edge of the area and, finding himself in space, took a neat touch before lashing the ball into the roof of the net with Town keeper Alex Smithies helpless.

However, United suffered a setback in the 24th minute when 30-goal top scorer Gary Hooper was forced off through injury to be replaced by Ben May.