Match report: Huddersfield Town 6 - 0 Wycombe Wanderers

Nov 16 2009 by Peter Barrow, Huddersfield Daily Examiner

SIX goals for a second home game – Huddersfield Town are getting some very healthy habits.

In fact it wouldn’t be a surprise if someone from Town is not on the phone to Blackpool Town Council this very morning to check what they have got under registered trademarks – you never know the Galpharm might just have been renamed ‘The Goal-den Mile’ by the time you take your seats for next Saturday’s clash with Hartlepool.

An early start certainly did not upset Lee Clark’s side as they turned on the style for the Sky cameras with 27 more efforts on goal, taking their tally to 95 in just four matches.

Like all emphatic wins it had to be earned and for the opening 20 minutes Town put down a marker that they could defend comfortably, and that gave them the right to go on and attack expansively.

And the current incarnation of Terriers have certainly taken on board Clark’s philosophy of getting the basics right to ensure that you can let the good times roll.

At times Town’s attacking play was a joy to behold as they played the ball about confidently and accurately as they picked part a Wycombe defence that wilted under the growing pressure.

Town’s second goal summed up everything that was good about their performance.

Goalkeeper Alex Smithies collected the ball in his six-yard box and instantly looked up, sending out a throw that arrived perfectly at the feet of Michael Collins. Collins used his pace and the space he was allowed on the left flank before timing his pass wonderfully to Anthony Pilkington on the right wing. In turn, the ball was played inch perfectly into the stride of Gary Roberts, who stroked the ball home.

The ball travelled from one penalty area into the net at other end in a matter of seconds courtesy of some incisive and sensible play – simplicity itself and just what the beautiful game is all about.

And there were five other goals to enjoy – and no-one will have enjoyed them quite as much as skipper Peter Clarke.

The centre-back started the ball rolling as he towered above his marker to reach Roberts perfectly delivered free kick and, while Wycombe keeper Jamie Young might have failed to get his positioning right, Clarke’s powerful header reaped a just reward. One up inside 22 minutes and it was obvious there was just no way Town were going to let the tide turn.

Six minutes later came the sublime with Roberts’ goal and that was followed just before half-time by the ridiculous.

Clarke should have had his second when he headed Robbie Williams’ pin-point cross on target but, somehow, Young managed to claw the ball on to the bar and it bounced down on the line. In the mayhem that followed Town claimed the goal, Lee Novak tried to handle the rebound into the net and the upshot of it all was no goal and a yellow card for the young striker.

Novak did not return after the interval as the Town camp decided to withdraw him because of a head injury that had led to him having blurred vision.