Huddersfield Town secured their first win of the 2008/09 League One season at Cheltenham this afternoon due to a good second-half performance. Having gone into the interval a goal down thanks to Lloyd Owusu, Nathan Clarke equalised with a cheeky effort and midfielder Ian Craney netted a scorching first for the Club to give Stan Ternent's side all three points - much to the delight of players and fans alike.
Substitute Keigan Parker made a real difference to the Town performance in the second-half, but plaudits have to go to defenders Lucketti and Clarke who missed very little at the back.
Town started the game in an orthodox 4-4-2 formation, with 'keeper Matt Glennon playing behind a defensive line of David Unsworth, skipper Chris Lucketti, Nathan Clarke and Andy Holdsworth. Michael Flynn started on the right wing with Gary Roberts on the opposite flank, leaving Ian Craney to partner Michael Collins in central midfield. Phil Jevons partnered loanee Liam Dickinson in attack.
The Terriers tried an unusual kick-off; the ball was played immediately to left-back Unsworth in the centre-circle, who tried to chip the goalkeeper after five seconds of play! Unfortunately, the ball drifted well over Shane Higgs' bar.
Town crafted another chance inside three minutes - Liam Dickinson played the ball out to right winger Flynn, whose near post cross found the head of Jevons at the near post. However, his header never threatened the goal and went well wide for a goal kick.
Michael Flynn volleyed a half-cleared long throw around ten yards over the bar from outside the area in the 7th minute.
The home side had their fair share of possession in the opening ten minutes, but other than forcing a couple of corners they did little to threaten Matt Glennon's goal. Their first shot finally came from midfielder Alex Russell in the 13th minute, but his 20-yard shot was always rising comfortably over the crossbar.
Town first their own corner in the 16th minute and Ian Craney's left sided delivery was only palmed into the path of Unsworth at the back post by 'keeper Higgs. The former England international tried to volley the ball back across goal and into the far post, but his effort drifted over the bar with several defenders watching closely.
Town Captain Chris Lucketti did well to divert a Jennison Myrie-Williams shot over the bar two minutes later, after the lively winger had cut inside from the left wing.
BOOKING - Dave Unsworth became the first player to pick up a booking in the 21st minute after he tugged back striker Barry Hayles, who had robbed him of the ball on the left side.
Town crafted a great move two minutes later, spreading the whole width of the pitch. Andy Holdsworth picked up a poor pass from Hayles on the Town right before passing to Flynn, who spread the play to the left brilliantly. Gary Roberts immediately volleyed his pass into the feet of Phil Jevons, who laid the ball back to the edge of the area for Ian Craney. Unfortunately for the watching Town fans, the former Accrington midfielder placed his left-foot shot over the crossbar.
The Terriers should have taken the lead on the stroke of 27 minutes. Town earned a free-kick in the right channel after defender Caines pushed Dickinson in the back and skipper Chris Lucketti headed Gary Roberts' resulting deep cross wide and over having lost his marker Lloyd Owusu.
Cheltenham then created a good chance of their own two minutes later; defender Michael Townsend heading a good left wing corner from Myrie-Williams wide of goal.
Gavin Caines headed a deep Alan Wright free-kick from the right well wide of goal from an acute angle in the 41st minute.
GOAL - Cheltenham scored the first goal of the game in the 42nd minute, with debutant Lloyd Owusu the scorer. The ball was played down the Cheltenham left, with midfielder Alex Russell eventually crossing into the middle of the box. The former Yeovil man got a run on defender Nathan Clarke and rose highest to powerfully head the ball to Matt Glennon's left.
The home side were on top when the goal came and continued to be until the end of the half, with striker Hayles hitting a snapshot from ten yards out straight at Matt Glennon.
HALF-TIME: CHELTENHAM TOWN 1 HUDDERSFIELD TOWN 0
Neither side made any changes during the interval, but the Terriers seemed to have an increased urgency about them as the rain fell heavily.
SUB - No chances came within the first few minutes and manager Stan Ternent wasted no time in making a chance, bringing on Keigan Parker for Phil Jevons in the 52nd minute.
Gary Roberts made a brilliant run down the right flank soon afterwards, leaving Myrie-Williams and Wright in his wake until centre-back Caines blocked his cross from the by-line. In the 56th minute, Unsworth hit a fierce volley that was adjudged to have been tipped over by 'keeper Higgs - even though it appeared to have clipped the crossbar.
GOAL - Town equalised from the debated corner on the 57th minute, with Nathan Clarke grabbing his first of the season. Ian Craney put a deep ball into the box from the left that Chris Lucketti nodded across goal. Liam Dickinson nudged the ball along the face of goal and the centre-back cleverly flicked the ball into the far post.
BOOKING - Gary Roberts was booked by referee Singh in the 60th minute for a trip on Lloyd Owusu down the Town right.
From the resulting free-kick it looked like Owusu had restored the Cheltenham lead, but his powerful back-post header flashed wide of goal.
Chris Lucketti had to be patched up after taking a knock in the face in the 64th minute, but he was back on the pitch a minute later when Gary Roberts sent a left-foot curler straight into the arms of goalkeeper Higgs.
Substitute Parker had made a real impact upon his introduction and he charged down a Wright clearance before advancing on goal and forcing Higgs to turn his shot around the post for a corner.
GOAL - From that 67th minute corner, the Terriers took the lead through a scorcher from Ian Craney. Roberts and Collins worked a short corner on the right side, with the winger eventually going to the by-line and crossing low with his right foot. The ball touched Michael Flynn en route to Craney, who slammed the ball into the corner of the goal from outside the box to record his first in the famous Blue and White stripes.
Cheltenham tried to fight back, but striker Owusu pulled his left foot volley well wide of goal in the 69th minute.
BOOKING - Cheltenham defender Gavin Caines was booked in the 71st minute for protesting a possible penalty decision, but skipper Lucketti had definitely won the ball with his strong challenge on Myrie-Williams.
A minute later, Dickinson stung the palms of 'keeper Higgs with an immensely powerful shot from a narrow angle after he had brushed Alan Wright aside.
SUB - Cheltenham boss Keith Downing replaced Alex Russell with Dean Sinclair in the 75th minute.
BOOKING - Veteran striker Barry Hayles was booked for dissent in the 78th minute.
SUB - Ashley Vincent replaced Hayles a minute later in Cheltenham's second change.
Michael Collins went on a brilliant run down the Town left in the 80th minute, cutting into the area and scuffing a right-foot shot that rolled agonisingly past the far post of the Cheltenham goal.
Nathan Clarke's attempt at a long throw in the 82nd minute was thwarted by a wet ball, with Cheltenham picking up the ball and going on the attack. A deep cross fell to substitute Sinclair at the far post, but Matt Glennon pushed his stinging shot away with two strong hands.
BOOKING - Ian Craney was booked in the 86th minute for time wasting, dribbling the ball away after a free-kick was awarded against Town.
BOOKING - Keigan Parker was booked for the same offense in the 90th minute.
The fourth official added four minutes of time onto the end of the game, but a combination of good defending from the Town centre-backs and good forward play from Parker and Craney in particular made sure that the three points came back to Yorkshire.
Huddersfield Town:
Matt Glennon, Andy Holdsworth, Michael Collins, Ian Craney, Nathan Clarke, Michael Flynn, Phil Jevons (Keigan Parker 52), Gary Roberts, Chris Lucketti (c), David Unsworth, Liam Dickinson
Unused Substitutes: Joe Skarz, Jon Worthington, Jim Goodwin, Luke Beckett
Town Bookings: Dave Unsworth (21), Gary Roberts (60), Ian Craney (86), Keigan Parker (90)
Cheltenham Bookings: Gavin Caines (71), Barry Hayles (78)
Attendance: 3,587
Visiting: 433
