Town took three points and the bragging rights home from Bradford this afternoon after a breathtaking game at Valley Parade. Mark Hudson scored the only goal of the game with a first half header and Town were full value for it. The home side increased the pressure in the second half, which was added to after the sending off of Danny Adams, but the defence stood strong and held out for a clean sheet and a vital victory.

The game started in typical local derby fashion with several players getting a talking to from referee Hill, including Danny Adams who was eventually booked with just four minutes played.

Moments later Mark Hudson was brought down on the edge of the Bradford penalty area by Bridge-Wilkinson allowing Town the first effort on target. Defender McIntosh lined himself up and powered the free-kick goal-ward but unfortunately his effort was straight at keeper Donovan Ricketts who parried the ball to safety.

Town keeper Matt Glennon had to be alert on nine minutes when, at full-stretch, he did well to tip a speculative Luke Colbeck effort from outside the area round his right-hand post.

Andy Holdsworth was then entered into Hill's book on twelve minutes for a late, sliding-tackle on Lee Holmes.

Town had an effort cleared off the line by the City defence on 18 minutes from the Terriers' first corner of the game. Collins' set-piece was hit to the far post where McIntosh powered his header past flailing keeper Ricketts but saw his effort cleared off the goalline by a combination of Wetherall and Bower.

The thousands of Town fans who had travelled over for the derby were sent into raptures on 27 minutes when the Terriers took the lead through Mark Hudson after a quick throw on the right flank deep in the City half caught the home-side off-guard. Beckett laid the ball back to Holdsworth whose cross to the near post stood up perfectly for Hudson to power his header past Ricketts.

Moments later Nathan Doyle was entered into the referee's book after a tussle with Matthew Young.

Steven Schumacher had Glennon scrambling across his goalline on 36 minutes when he completed some neat Bradford passing with an attempted chip which was a yard wide of the Town upright.

Windass had an ideal opportunity to put the home side back on level terms with a minute of the half remaining. Colbeck did well on the right flank to fire a cross to the centre which was flicked on to the suspiciously offside Holmes who laid the ball back for the City striker who fired well over.

Seconds later Beckett almost added a second for Town when he was played in behind the City defence by a clever Taylor-Fletcher through ball but Ricketts beat the striker to the ball and diving at his feet, gathered it at the second attempt did.

As the fourth official signalled two minutes of added time Windass found himself onside with just the keeper to beat but, from the right hand edge of the Town penalty area, he pulled his effort across goal and wide of the mark.

Half Time: Bradford City 0 Huddersfield Town 1

Martin McIntosh came to Town's rescue within ten seconds of the restart when neat 1-2 from kick off between Windass and Holmes saw the latter forge into the area but the Town defender made a superb block in the area as the Bantams' midfielder pulled the trigger.

Holmes went one better moments later when Clarke's defensive header fell kindly for the midfielder who outpaced Town's defence and got his shot away, but the angle was too tight and his effort rolled wide of Glennon's left-hand post.

Worryingly, Town's man of the early season, Gary Taylor-Fletcher limped off on 50 minutes and was replaced by Danny Schofield.

Luke Beckett was unlucky again on 55 minutes when an accurate centre from Holdsworth was stabbed goalward by the striker but he could not get the necessary power on the effort to beat Ricketts.

Worthington was entered into the book for persistent fouling on 63 minutes and seconds later Bridge-Wilkinson was also booked for a high foot on Michael Collins.

Former Town loanee David Graham tested Town keeper Glennon on 69 minutes when he met Holmes' cross from the left with a deft header which Glennon did well to react to and pluck out of the air.

With eighteen minutes remaining Town were reduced to ten men when Danny Adams was sent-off by fussy referee Hill for a challenge on Doyle. Jacko immediately made a change replacing Michael Collins with Tom Clarke.

With twelve minutes remaining Joe Colbeck made way for Eddie Johnson.

Jacko made his third change of the game on 80 minutes replacing Luke Beckett with Pawel Abbott.

Todd made his second change on 81 minutes when Alan Rodgers replaced Nathan Doyle.

Matthew Young was entered into Hill's book with eight minutes remaining for a late challenge on Doyle.

Town came under more pressure and as the clock wound down, Matt Glennon made the save of the season with a minute remaining when he got down quickly at his near post to deflect Johnson's point-blank header round the post.

In the final minute of the five added-on at the end of the game Glennon dropped a deep cross straight to Windass but atoned for the error with a brilliant save from the City striker.

Town's Team: Matthew Glennon, Andy Holdsworth, Danny Adams, Mark Hudson, Nathan Clarke, Jon Worthington, Gary Taylor-Fletcher (Danny Schofield 50), Martin McIntosh, Luke Beckett (Pawel Abbott 80), Michael Collins (Tom Clarke 72), Matthew Young.

Subs not used: Paul Rachubka, Adnan Ahmed.

Attendance: 14,925