Match report: Huddersfield Town 2 - 1 Hartlepool United
But it was a different story in the second half as Town maintained a high tempo throughout and ground Hartlepool down.
Williams was wide from the edge of the area just a minute after the restart, and Pilkington’s free-kick against the bar came after a foul by former Town man Sam Collins on Rhodes.
Collins was again the guilty party for the free-kick which led to the leveller, this time fouling Peter Clarke, and while it was Hartlepool’s second own goal at the stadium in as many seasons (Michael Nelson unintentionally made the scoresheet last February), there could be no denying Town deserved their break.
The home side continued to flood forward, and it took a superb tackle from Liddle to stop Michael Collins scoring before the midfielder set up Pilkington, who shot just wide.
Alex Smithies saved from substitute Leon McSweeney as Hartlepool mounted a rare counter-attack in the 66th minute, but within 60 seconds, Town were in front through Williams’ wonder effort.
Kay again tried his luck before substitute Theo Robinson missed the chance to make it three when Rhodes’ cross squirted off his boot.
Gary Roberts (twice) and Peter Clarke both came close, but Town had to be satisfied with just the two goals, which takes their home tally to 22 in five outings, equalling the club’s best-ever mark set in 1952-53 – a promotion campaign!
Clark’s men have also set a club record for the highest total in their first nine home games, the 28 bettering the tally of 1933-34 by one.
Click here for a gallery of action shots from Saturday's game.
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