Town continued their unbeaten pre-season run with a thoroughly enjoyable pre-season match at the McAlpine this evening which saw the Terriers run out 2-0 winners after second-half strikes from Newby and Stead. The Gaffer showed his satisfaction with the work rate, commitment and attitude of all of his squad by joining the crowd in clapping each player off the pitch at the final whistle.
The game produced an entertaining first five minutes which saw returning hero Marcus Stewart see plenty of early possession. However, the ex-Town man was well marshalled by Town's new-look centre-half pairing of Scott and Mirfin.
The first corner of the game came on 10 minutes after Mirfin did well to cut out John Oster's cross. The resulting set piece was well claimed by home-debutant keeper Ian Gray.
Keeper Gray was involved again on 14 minutes when he saved well from Proctor's vicious drive. The resulting parry was cleared by defender Mirfin, who was called upon again moments later after Schofield was caught in possession and Sunderland broke. Proctor received the ball in a virtually identical position on the right but this time was foiled by a superbly timed sliding tackle by the young Academy lad.
On 20 minutes Town earned their first corner of the game after a clever step-over by another home debutant striker Jon Newby saw Sunderland right-back Williams on the back foot. The Black Cat's defender got back to cut out Newby's cross.
Town's first real chance of the game came on 24 minutes after a great half-volley cross by right-back Booty found Schofield on the edge of the six yard area. The ex-Brodsworth striker was at full stretch as he connected with the ball and could not direct his header on target.
Town's second corner of the game came on the half hour mark after good work by Schofield. The resulting Carss set-piece found Scott, who rose well at the back post but could not find the target.
Sunderland created the best move of the half ten minutes before the break, with neat inter-play between Stewart, Whitley and Proctor - the latter forcing a point-blank save from Gray.
Ian Gray denied Sunderland an opener just five minutes before the break with a superb reaction save after McAteer latched onto Williams' cross.
On 42 minutes The McAlpine witnessed what could arguably be the miss of the season (even at this early stage) when a cross from the Sunderland left found Piper at the back post with only Gray to beat. The Black Cat's winger, with an age of time to pick his spot from three yards out, somehow lashed his shot well wide of the mark to the disbelief of the large travelling support behind the goal and to the obvious amusement of the home fans.
This was the last real action of the half, with both teams receiving generous applause from the fans.
Half Time: Huddersfield Town 0 Sunderland AFC 0
The visitors made one change at half-time when captain McAteer was replaced by Sean Thornton.
Town threatened within two minutes of the restart when Jon Stead flicked on superbly for the onrushing Newby. However, keeper Mart Poom on the race to the ball clearing the danger into the stand.
Stead was involved again minutes later when he held play up and fed the onrushing Carss, who just failed to beat the last defender.
It was Sunderland's turn to attack through John Oster who fired in a cheeky chip which narrowly missed Gray's right-hand post. Stewart was next to threaten, but lashed his half chance the wrong side of Gray's near post.
The game continued to move from end to end with skipper Robbie Edwards volleying over Poom's bar before Sunderland broke and forced successive corners which eventually came to nothing.
The McAlpine were on there feet on 56 minutes when good harrying ny Holland saw Jon Stead latch onto the loose ball. The young striker did superbly to draw both defenders before squaring the ball to the unmarked Newby who coolly smashed home from 12 yards.
Stead and Newby were again involved on 58 minutes when neat interplay led to Stead seeing his having a half chance scrambled to safety by the Sunderland defence.
Stead was pivotal in Town's attacking moves and minutes later he rushed onto a Schofield through-ball which visiting keeper Poom read well and only just beat the striker to the ball.
Sunderland forced their seventh corner of the game on 68 minutes which was half cleared by the defence as far as Whitley who fired in from the edge of the area but saw his effort well charged down by the impressive Mirfin.
A minutes later Town doubled their lead when a superb Robbie Edwards cross from the left was met by the rising Stead who coolly directed a looping header over Poom into the bottom corner of the net.
With 15 minutes left of the game the Gaffer made his first change of the evening when Andrew Holdsworth replaced trialists Tyrone Thompson.
With 12 minutes remaining keeper Gray produced another magnificent one-handed save after Piper carried the ball well and struck a sweet effort from the edge of the area.
That was Piper's last involvement as he and Proctor were replaced by Michael Gray and Chris Brown.
Full-Time: Huddersfield Town 2 Sunderland AFC 0
Attendance: 5144
Travelling: 744
