Barnsley: Adam Hammill (5, 21, 37)
Town: Theo Robinson (84)
The scoreline might suggest that Championship outfit Barnsley made light work of Town this afternoon, but it was far from it - in fact it took a spectacular hat-trick from winger Adam Hammill, which included two world class strikes, to see off Lee Clark's side, who in truth bossed large periods of the game.
The Terriers were under the cosh for the first quarter of an hour as the home side started well but soon found their stride, only to be stunned by two unbelievable goals from the former Liverpool trainee. Three goals down at half-time, Clark's side continued to press their hosts throughout the second 45 minutes and deservedly scored late in the game through lively substitute Theo Robinson.
Town's defence had to be alert inside the opening minute when a ball into the penalty area dropped to Barnsley striker Goran Lovre and fortunately captain for the day Nathan Clarke was on hand to make a vital interception just as the forward looked to pull the trigger.
GOAL - Barnsley bossed the possession in the opening stages and scored a stunning goal in the 5th minute to take the lead. An interception made by striker Andy Gray just inside the Town half meant the ball fell to winger Adam Hammill, who looked up and let fly with a spectacular effort from almost 30 yards that gave Town 'keeper Ian Bennett no chance.
Town finally got on the ball and enjoyed a sustained period of possession in the 8th minute, but the Tykes were still enjoying the better of the opening stages. The aerial power of striker Gray was a constant menace for the Terriers, but on the ground Lee Clark's side were tackling hard - with loanee Graham Carey in particular pulling off one great sliding challenge on striker Lovre in the 12th minute.
Barnsley were on the attack again a minute later, with striker Lovre cleverly setting the ball to his right for overlapping full-back Bobby Hassell; however, the former Mansfield man dragged his shot wide of Bennett's far post from the edge of the box.
Town's best move of the game to date came in the 17th minute when a great passing move culminated in a one-two between Croft and Peltier setting the full back away down the right side; his cross fell to the head of Garner, but he glanced his effort wide of the far stick. The ball was still alive and fell to left-back Carey, who picked out Garner once again, but the loanee couldn't control the ball properly at the near post and goalkeeper Steele was able to clear up. However, the signs were promising for the travelling fans.
All of a sudden the Terriers were on top and Derby man Croft was the next to try his luck in the 19th minute. He received a pass to feet from Garner before steadying himself and hitting a fierce drive just wide of the near post from 25 yards out; the ball clipping the outside of the side netting on the way through.
GOAL - Unbelievably it was the home fans celebrating again in the 21st minute when winger Adam Hammill scored another unbelievable strike. Barnsley quickly took a free-kick in midfield, with Doyle playing the ball out to the right for O'Brien; he crossed towards the penalty spot where Hammill performed an amazing overhead kick, with the ball rocketing into the top right corner of Bennett's goal before the custodian could even move.
Town continued to force the play thereafter, with Kay having a shot blocked after a Gudjonsson free-kick before another excellent piece of play from Carey saw him beat two men and play the ball into the centre for Scott Arfield, whose 22 yard drive had to be turned around the post by Steele.
Gary Roberts's 25th minute shot from range was well blocked by right back Hassell and from the resulting corner Scott Arfield had a penalty claim turned down by the referee after it looked like defender McEveley pulled his shirt.
Arfield did win a free-kick on the edge of the Barnsley box two minutes later, but set-piece specialist Carey struck the wall with his powerful effort.
Jordan Rhodes then spurned a great chance just before the half hour mark after Joey Gudjonsson's brilliant dink over the top of defender Shackell sent him clear on goal. The 2009/10 top scorer was one on one with 'keeper Steele, but his left footed shot was well saved by the former Manchester United goalkeeper.
Hammill sent another well hit volley straight at Bennett soon after in a rare Barnsley foray into the Town half but Town were soon in the ascendancy once again, with Rhodes' brilliant right wing cross flashing across the face of goal before Arfield hit it high and wide at the far post from a very acute angle.
GOAL - Against the run of play Barnsley made it three in the 37th minute, with that man Adam Hammill completing a very impressive hat-trick. A simple free kick delivered up the pitch by McEveley was played out wide by Gray into the path of the left winger, who steadied himself inside the Town area before firing low and hard past Bennett's left side.
And that was that in the first-half - 45 minutes where at times the Terriers had played some very good football, but found themselves three goals down due largely to a superb individual performance from Hammill and some impressive movement off the ball from the Tykes midfield.
HALF TIME: BARNSLEY 3 HUDDERSFIELD TOWN 0
Town were back on the attack inside the opening 70 seconds of the second half after Garner was barged in the back by McEveley; up stepped Carey 25 yards out to bend a vicious free-kick towards the near post, but Steele did brilliantly to get across and push the ball around his near post.
The Terriers continued to press in the opening minutes, with the left sided partnership of Roberts and Carey putting in some impressive work. However, Ian Bennett needed to stay alert and did well to push over midfielder Butterfield's 61st minute drive.
SUB - Barnsley boss Mark Robins made a double change in the same minute, with former Town loanee Liam Dickinson and Luke Potter replacing Jason Shackell and Andy Gray.
Good combination between Rhodes, Arfield and Roberts ended with the left winger bending a curler over the bar a minute later.
SUB - Lee Clark introduced Theo Robinson and Anthony Pilkington to the game in place of Rhodes and Croft in the 64th minute.
Roberts then broke down the left again a minute later before intelligently pulling the ball back to the edge of the box for Garner, but his placed shot was blocked by a defender. Carey picked up the loose ball and crossed to the near post, but somehow the Barnsley defence scrambled the ball clear with sub Robinson in close attendance.
Another deep cross from Carey caused problems for Barnsley with Garner lurking at the far post with twenty minutes remaining.
SUBS - Barnsley made three further substitutions in the 70th minute, with Hammill, Lovre and Butterfield replaced by the popular Hugo Colace, Michael Boulding and Steven Bennett.
SUB - Town made another change a minute later, with Arfield replaced in central midfield by first year professional Chris Atkinson.
SUBS - The home side made another double sub in the 75th minute, with O'Brien and Steele replaced by David Preece and Martin Devaney.
Town were immediately on the attack when a superb cross field pass picked out Pilkington, but after he cut inside he powered a drive high and wide of goal with several teammates well positioned. Minutes later Gudjonsson sent a shot similarly wide from fully 35 yards out.
SUB - Town made their fourth change in the 80th minute when Robbie Simpson replaced Garner in attack.
GOAL - Town pulled a deserved goal back in the 84th minute through the head of Theo Robinson. Robbie Simpson showed good strength down the left side to shield the ball from right back Bobby Hassell, allowing Gary Roberts to pick the ball up and skin Colace before standing a cross up to the far post; Robinson using a great leap to tower above the defender and nod the ball across into the far post.
The ever-dangerous striker was suddenly alive and he drove the ball inches wide of the post from the edge of the box after Simpson nodded down Carey's cross.
Simpson then forced Preece to come out and claim Pilkington's deep cross after more good work from Robinson down the right.
Theo was the best striker on the pitch at this point and an excellently judged ball over the top from the equally impressive Carey set him away in the 88th minute. He raced into the area before trying to bend the ball inside the far post, but 'keeper Preece did very well to push the ball away to safety.
Town were creating chance after chance at this stage and a minute later Roberts and Gudjonsson worked a short corner to Carey, who delivered another superb cross into the area; unfortunately, ex-Barnsley man Antony Kay glanced a header wide of goal when in acres of space ten yards out.
Bennett saved Devaney's near post drive with seconds of the game left.
FULL TIME: BARNSLEY 3 HUDDERSFIELD TOWN 1
Town's Team (4-4-2):
Ian Bennett; Graham Carey, Nathan Clarke (c), Antony Kay, Lee Peltier; Gary Roberts, Scott Arfield (Chris Atkinson 71), Joey Gudjonsson, Lee Croft (Anthony Pilkington 64); Joe Garner (Robbie Simpson 80), Jordan Rhodes (Theo Robinson 64)
Unused Subs: Alex Smithies, Jamie McCombe, Jim Goodwin, Peter Clarke, Lionel Ainsworth, Gary Naysmith, Liam Ridehalgh, Aidan Chippendale
Barnsley:
Luke Steele (David Preece 75), Bobby Hassell, Jason Shackell (Luke Potter 61), Stephen Foster, Jay McEveley, Adam Hammill (Steven Bennett 70), Nathan Doyle, Jacob Butterfield (Hugo Colace 70), Jim O'Brien (Martin Devaney 75), Goran Lovre (Michael Boulding 70), Andy Gray (Liam Dickinson 61)
Unused Subs: Alistair Taylor, Jamil Adam, Reuben Noble-Lazarus
Attendance: 4,478
Town: 876
