Town's Reserves lost to their Stoke City counterparts on a chilly February afternoon after being punished for an error in the early stages but the on looking home fans will have been encouraged by the performances of many of the Huddersfield players and the return of Danny Cadamarteri.

A host of managers watched on in the stands - Darlington's Dave Penney, Blackpool's Simon Grayson and Bury's Alan Knill to name a few - as the Terriers bossed possession but could not break down their physical opponents.

Town exploded out of the blocks and some quick passing between Danny Schofield, Cadamarteri and Lucas Akins ended with the latter curling a left-foot shot towards goal that Russell Hoult had to turn over his own crossbar - all this within the first 20 seconds!

Stoke's Paul Gallagher looked one of the most dangerous players on the pitch until his withdrawal through injury after 40 minutes and it was him that opened the scoring after five - taking possession of a loose Matty Young pass in the centre of the park before advancing and curling a shot around a helpless Simon Eastwood from the edge of the box.

The main focus of the Town support will have been on the returning Cadamarteri and he looked lively in the first-half. One typically powerful surge off the left touchline at the heart of the Stoke defence had to be halted by a crude Carl Dickinson challenge after 20 minutes and it was Danny's pass that allowed Schofield to rasp a volley towards goal from an acute angle after quarter of an hour; defender Zakuani clearing the ball off the line.

As was the plan before kick-off, Cadamarteri was substituted during the interval but his partnership with Akins was one of the main features of the first-half. The first-year pro, fresh from a loan spell at Northwich Victoria, looked better for the experience and used his physical strength to good effect against the Stoke defence. Most of Town's good work started with his hold-up play.

Town had other chances to get back on level terms' Danny Racchi flashed a 25-yard drive just wide of the right-hand post moments before the half-time whistle and left-back Danny Codman volleyed inches over the bar from his fantastic deep cross in the 57^th minute.

John Dungworth's men bossed possession in the second 45 minutes, but struggled to create any clear-cut chances. Aaron Hardy almost capped his improved second period with a goal on 75 minutes but flashed his edge of the box drive just wide of the left-hand post.

Tom Clarke in particular did well against the more experienced, physically bigger strike duo of Jon Parkin and Vincent Pericard, but was booked for a challenge on substitute Phillips just after the hour mark.

Joe Skarz, playing in the 'Makelele' role in defensive midfield, saw a lot of the ball and impressed with his composure and distribution too.

Simon Eastwood denied Parkin late on after his good near-post run was picked out by Dickinson's cross before Danny Schofield dragged an edge of the box left-footer wide in the final minute.

Huddersfield Town Reserves:

Simon Eastwood, Aaron Hardy (c), Daniel Codman, Joe Skarz (Mitchell Bailey 89), David Mirfin (Tom Jackson 78), Tom Clarke, Danny Racchi, Matthew Young, Danny Cadamarteri (Luke Malcher 46), Lucas Akins, Danny Schofield

Unused Substitute: Curtis Roberts

Bookings: Tom Clarke 62