HUDDERSFIELD Town were beaten by a late goal as they put on a strong show in a 1-0 defeat by Arsenal at Highbury.

It took a goal four minutes from time by the Gunners inside left Reg Lewis – who capped a fine season by scoring both goals in Arsenal’s 2-0 victory over Liverpool in the FA Cup final later in the year – for the Londoners to see off the challenge of a determined Town side.

Town had not gone into the game with a settled side having to make seven changes and fielding a right winger Raymond Taylor and an inside right Harry Yates who were both making their League debuts for Huddersfield.

The Gunners made the early running with centre forward Peter Goring having a couple of shots, but ten minutes before half-time Town went close when centre forward Ronnie Burke fired in an effort that skimmed the Gunners crossbar.

Town deserved to be on level terms at the interval and went close to taking the lead through Vic Metcalfe in the second half, but after inside right Jimmy Logie had been nearly given the home side the lead, it was Lewis – who scored 103 goals in 154 appearances for Arsenal – who produced the decisive score.

Arsenal: Swindin; Scott, Barnes; Forbes, L Compton, Mercer; Cox, Logie, Goring, Lewis, McPherson

Town: Wheeler; Hayes, Stewart; Battye, Boot, Morgan; R Taylor, Yates, Burke, Nightingale, Metcalfe.

Referee: FL Overton (Derby)

Attendance: 50,000