Huddersfield Town 6 - 0 Macclesfield: Examiner FA Cup match report

Nov 29 2010 Huddersfield Daily Examiner

SIX different names on the scoresheet and an FA Cup demolition job carried out with ruthless efficiency.

Warnings that Macclesfield would try and muscle their way through to round three never materialised, mainly because they were never given a chance to get into the game.

Lee Clark’s men were in control from the off, and by the time the League II team conjured a genuine effort on goal – Alex Smithies made a fine save to thwart former Bradford player Paul Bolland in the 81st minute – the tie was well and truly out of their reach.

In honesty, Town created enough chances to have reached double figures, giving watching Tranmere manager Les Parry plenty to ponder ahead of tomorrow’s Johnstone’s Paint Trophy area semi-final at Prenton Park.

Graham Carey’s well-weighted upfield pass and Anthony Pilkington’s cross which had the Macc defence at sixes and sevens in only the third minute were a sign of things to come.

Benik Afobe had come close with a header from Carey’s centre by the time his frontline partner Jordan Rhodes opened the floodgates in the 19th minute.

The 11th of the season for Town’s top scorer followed another sweeping move down the right, Afobe holding the ball up neatly to set up Gary Roberts for a deep cross which fell perfectly for Rhodes to head home.

Antony Kay and Rhodes both tried their luck with shots, Jamie McCombe had a header saved by Jose Veiga, Macc captain Paul Morgan came close to an own goal and Anthony Pilkington put a 20-yard free-kick wide before Town’s second arrived in the 35th minute.

Right-back Lee Peltier’s through ball was cleverly backheeled by Afobe into the path of Pilkington, who cut along the edge of the penalty area before netting his 10th goal of the season with a trademark left-foot shot.

Tyrone Barnett shot well wide during a rare Macc attack a minute later, but Town were soon forging forward again.

Veiga did well to hold Damien Johnson’s dipping effort, then held onto Kay’s hooked shot, but was powerless to prevent Arsenal loan player Afobe notching his third Town goal and first on home soil in first-half stoppage time.