Match report: Huddersfield Town 2 Swindon Town 2

Feb 15 2010 by Dougie Thomson, Huddersfield Daily Examiner

The former Poole player had just headed home his 12th goal of the campaign from on-loan Bolton player Ward’s cross from the left – and Town were back at square one.

Billy Paynter, Swindon’s 19-goal top scorer, had a header saved by Alex Smithies in the 14th minute, while Pilkington’s free-kick was deflected off its goalward course before Town found themselves trailing in the 28th minute.

Lucas’s long upfield punt fell towards the Swindon left fell to Paynter, who laid the ball off the Ward, the 18-year-old Bradford-born Leeds academy product cutting into the edge of the box before squeezing a low shot into Smithies’ right-hand corner.

It was another big setback, but Town stuck to their guns, with Neal Trotman’s header being saved by Lucas before Collins volleyed just over.

Rhodes shot into the side-netting then had a header saved while Novak was frustrated twice in three minutes just before the break, first when he shot wide when in space inside the area, then when Lucas tipped his firm header from Pilkington’s cross over the bar.

The equaliser finally arrived early in the second half, when Kay headed home his fifth for the club after Trotman nodded on Roberts’ corner.

Cue the search for a winner, with Pilkington’s volley pushed away for a 52nd-minute corner from which Collins shot was cleared off the line by Ferry.

Lucas then denied Novak in the 68th minute, while Kay’s 76th-minute effort was deflected just over.

Substitute Theo Robinson had an 84th-minute shot blocked before shooting wide from a good position with Collins screaming for a square ball.

Then Clarke’s last-gasp header from Pilkington’s inswinging corner was blocked on the line by Brian Easton as Swindon held out.