Stan Ternent often says that goals change games, but it could be argued that a penalty save from Matt Glennon played a big part in Town's welcome win at Swindon Town this afternoon. Town were one goal to the good courtesy of Liam Dickinson when the home side were awarded a spot-kick and directly from Matty's save and clearance from Swindon's Simon Cox, Gary Roberts scored a second goal and the Terriers never looked back.
Michael Flynn added a spectacular third with a twenty five yard volley in the second-half and Ternent's side fully deserved the three points, despite a late consolation from Swindon captain Craig Easton.
Town started the game in a 4-3-3 formation, with 'keeper Matt Glennon behind a back four of Skarz, Butler, Nathan Clarke and Goodwin. Skipper Worthington sat slightly behind Craney and Flynn in central midfield, with Roberts and Cadamarteri on the left and right sides of central striker Dickinson in attack.
The game started fairly evenly, but Town really should have taken an early lead in the fourth minute. Craney was blatantly held back by midfielder Nalis on the Town right and as the assistant referee correctly flagged for the offence, Craney crossed low into the box. Gary Roberts tamely shot straight at 'keeper Brezovan as everyone stopped and watched, but it turned out that the referee had played the advantage and that 'Robbo' had in fact spurned a very good opportunity.
GOAL - The Terriers were applying some real pressure on their hosts and did take the lead in the 6th minute through loanee Liam Dickinson. The big striker had earned Town a right-sided corner by pressuring left-back Smith and from the resulting set-piece, a quick one-two between Roberts and Goodwin allowed the latter to cross deep; defender Andy Butler nodded the ball back across goal for Dickinson to poke home his fourth goal in blue and white stripes, despite the Swindon goalie getting a hand to the ball as it went it.
Swindon tried to fight back and skipper Craig Easton headed a decent cross from striker Cox over the bar when stretching in the ninth minute before big forward Paynter acrobatically volleyed well wide a minute later. However, the Terriers were well on top and the constant pressure that Dickinson was applying forced former Town loanee Jerel Ifil into an error in the 11th minute, from which Craney crossed into the box after picking up the ball; winger Roberts narrowly missing out at the back post.
The Terriers were pressing the Swindon players very high up the pitch and it was forcing them to waste possession. Danny Cadamarteri was very lively alongside Dickinson and Roberts for Town and the home crows were getting audibly frustrated.
A rare Joe Skarz error in the 18th minute almost led to an opportunity at goal for Paynter, but the former Hull City man did force Matt Glennon to turn the ball around the post a minute later when he shot at goal from an incredibly acute angle. From the resulting corner, defender Ifil blasted way over the bar on the volley.
Glennon had to be alert once more to deflect a strong Cox volley behind after a deep Timlin corner was nodded back across goal by the busy Paynter in the 21st minute.
A good low ball across the Swindon goalmouth from Gary Roberts narrowly evaded Liam Dickinson in the 24th minute after good initial work by Ian Craney as Town continued to carry a potent attacking threat.
Two minutes of madness then followed to send the Town fans into ecstasy.
The Terriers gave away a penalty in the 25th minute when Andy Butler brought down midfielder Timlin in the area; the home man had been played in by a clever pass from striker Cox and the big defender tripped him from behind unnecessarily with right-back Goodwin covering around. Swindon top-scorer Cox stepped up, but 'keeper Glennon guessed right and smothered the ball brilliantly as the striker tried to slot home.
GOAL - Gary Roberts amazingly scored straight from Glennon's clearance in the 26th minute - his fifth of the season. Town's hero cleared the ball long out of his hands and as the defenders waited for the ball to drop, the maverick winger nipped in and volleyed the ball low and hard to beat the helpless goalkeeper and extend Town's lead.
BOOKING - Swindon midfielder Lilian Nalis was lucky to stay on the pitch in the 30th minute; he hauled down Ian Craney after a Jon Worthington header had put the midfielder through on goal to the left of the penalty area. The midfielder's saving grace could have been that the offence was a long way from goal.
Striker Dickinson forced home custodian Brezovan into a flying save from the resulting free-kick with a well-struck shot towards the top right-hand corner of goal.
BOOKING - Swindon midfielder Michael Timlin was also booked on the stoke of 32 minutes after he crashed into Jon Worthington.
A good tackle from right-back Goodwin two minutes later put Ian Craney in on goal and he turned onto his left foot cleverly, but was forced into rushing his shot and fired well over the bar.
It was all Town at this stage and less than thirty seconds later Dickinson outpaced centre-back Morrison onto a long clearance before challenging 'keeper Brezovan for the ball. Both players were brave when sliding in for the ball and the custodian managed to block the shot, injuring Dickinson in the process.
Swindon's Timlin fired well wide of goal from long range in the 37th minute as the Town striker sat on the sidelines receiving treatment from physio Ian Liversedge. Thankfully he managed to get Liam back onto the pitch, but the instant he returned Danny Cadamarteri fell awkwardly on his head under a fair sliding challenge from Ifil and he was needed again!
Cads managed to continue on and the Terriers continued to control the game until the interval. Timlin shot wide again from 25 yards, but Cadamarteri could have scored a third when he missed a volley at the back post from a clever Roberts cross in added time.
The home defence looked constantly panicked by the Town attackers and manager Stan Ternent must have been very happy after the first 45 minutes.
HALF-TIME: SWINDON TOWN 0 HUDDERSFIELD TOWN 2
Ternent must have been warning his players of a possible Swindon backlash early in the second-half and the Robins did have the majority of possession in the early stages. However, Town were the first to really threaten goal in the 49th minute.
The move started through a great pass from Michael Flynn; he played the ball inside right-back Amankwaah for Roberts to race onto. The Town winger turned the full-back inside out before laying the ball back to the onrushing Craney, but he could only screw his left-foot shot wide of goal.
Billy Paynter had Swindon's first effort in the second-half in the 53rd minute, but his weak long-ranger was still rising when it passed a good ten foot over Matt Glennon's crossbar.
SUB - Swindon boss Maurice Malpas made his first change in the 56th minute, replacing Lilian Nalis with winger Anthony McNamee.
Ian Craney tested 'keeper Brezovan with a well struck shot from the edge of the box a minute later, turning well onto his left foot but failing to get the necessary direction on the shot to trouble the custodian.
Nathan Clarke put a back post header straight at the Swindon 'keeper in the 59th minute from a deep Ian Craney corner.
Andy Butler did well to block two Lee Peacock efforts on goal as Swindon tried to fight back just after the hour mark.
SUB - Stan Ternent introduced Phil Jevons to the game in the 64th minute - he replaced Danny Cadamarteri on the right side of attack. 'Cads' had been pointing towards his hamstring before the change.
SUB - Swindon also made a change, bringing on Barry Corr for Paynter.
Substitute McNamee curled an effort well wide of Matt Glennon's right-hand post.
BOOKED - Jerel Ifil was booked in the 69th minute for a crude challenge on Dickinson.
GOAL - Town then scored a spectacular third goal through Michael Flynn in the 69th minute. Gary Roberts started the move down the left, coming inside right-back Amankwaah with the ball before feeding a pass to sub Jevons in the area; he span on the ball and passed to Ian Craney, who turned onto his left before seeing his shot cleared off the line by defender Morrison. However, his clearance fell to the Town midfielder who volleyed home without taking a touch, right into the top corner from twenty yards. He celebrated his first away goal for Town in front of the brilliant travelling support, who knew they had witnessed an early contender for 'goal of the season'!
SUB - Ternent then replaced the impressive Liam Dickinson with Andy Holdsworth in the 72nd minute. This change saw goalscorer Flynn move into the central striker position, with Holdsworth in central midfield.
Hordes of home fans left the Stadium after Town's third as Ternent's side started to keep the ball from their hosts. The ever-dangerous Roberts should have done better with his cross towards Flynn in the 77th minute after being sent into the box by a brilliant Jevons pass, but he could only float the ball over his target and out for a goal kick.
Swindon sub Corr headed over the bar when it seemed easier to score in the 80th minute after Lee Peacock has climbed highest to head a Timlin free-kick back across the face of goal.
BOOKING - Swindon skipper Craig Easton was booked in the 83rd minute for a late lunge on Jim Goodwin.
Peacock himself missed an easy header from a right wing cross from McNamee with six minutes remaining.
GOAL - Swindon did manage a consolation goal in the 88th minute through skipper Craig Easton. The goal came courtesy of a clever bit of skill from McNamee, who beat Jon Worthington on the right before crossing deep; his ball was headed back by target man Corr for the midfielder to slam home on the volley.
BOOKING - Gary Roberts was booked in the 89th minute for time wasting.
FULL-TIME: SWINDON TOWN 1 HUDDERSFIELD TOWN 3
Huddersfield Town:
Matt Glennon, Joe Skarz, Ian Craney, Nathan Clarke, Jon Worthington (c), Danny Cadamarteri (Phil Jevons 64), Michael Flynn, Jim Goodwin, Gary Roberts, Andy Butler, Liam Dickinson (Andy Holdsworth 72)
Unused Subs: Keigan Parker, Robbie Williams, Chris Lucketti
Town Booking: Gary Roberts (89)
Swindon Bookings: Lilian Nalis (30), Michael Timlin (32), Jerel Ifil (69), Craig Easton (83)
Attendance: 7,071
Visitors: 399
