FA Cup match report: Huddersfield Town 6 -1 Dagenham & Redbridge

Nov 7 2009 by Mel Booth, Huddersfield Daily Examiner

TOWN TURN ON POWER

SUPERCHARGED Town turned on the power to cruise into the FA Cup second round with an impressive six-goal salute.

Far too quick and inventive for the League II Daggers, Lee Clark’s side triumphed with a double each for Lee Novak and Gary Roberts plus strikes for Jordan Rhodes and Robbie Williams.

The only pity was Town couldn’t keep a fifth straight home clean sheet, conceding to Paul Benson on 74 minutes – 518 minutes after the last goal they let in at the Galpharm against Yeovil in August.

With Lee Novak declared fit after his shoulder problem, manager Lee Clark was able to name an unchanged starting line-up for the fifth successive match.

Marcus Stewart, a player-coach at Exeter, and former Town teammate David Beresford watched from the directors box as Dagenham made a bright start and top scorer Paul Benson fired over from close range with barely 90 seconds on the clock.

Town settled and, on six minutes, had what looked a decent penalty shout waved away by Lancashire official Graham Salisbury.

Novak created the chance with some determined running to rob Jon Nurse of possession in the box and his squared pass was met by Roberts who, as he flicked it forward, looked to be tripped by veteran keeper Tony Roberts, who was playing professionally before his opposite number, Alex Smithies, was even born.

Town’s disappointment was shortlived, however, as they took the lead less than three minutes later – with yet another spectacular free-kick from left back Robbie Williams.

The man who won three points in the previous match at Oldham with a cracking 30-yarder this time struck from just outside the box, defeating the sprawling Roberts with another sweet shot.

It sparked the new ‘Swan’ celebration from Town’s players and, while Peter Gain lobbed a shot onto the roof of Town’s net shortly afterwards, they were in no mood to let Dagenham back into the contest.

Lee Peltier drilled in a shot which keeper Roberts couldn’t hold, only for Jordan Rhodes to scoop the follow-up shot narrowly wide of the target, and then winger Roberts cut in and unleashed a left-foot drive which the Dagenham stopper had to smother at the foot of a post.

Town extended their lead in the 21st minute, Anthony Pilkington wriggling to the goalline on the left and crossing for Roberts to nod in at the back post.

Then, barely two minutes later, rampant Town were three ahead, Novak responding to his manager’s call for more goals with a tap-in, after Pilkington had burst past three would-be tacklers and unleashed a low left-foot drive which the keeper spilled to the eager 21-year-old.