Terriers continue positive start to pre-season
- Huddersfield Town win second match of pre-season
- More minutes in the tank for Carlos’ side
- Duane Holmes solo effort and own goal seal win
Huddersfield Town continued their pre-season by recording a 2-0 win over Southport at the PURE Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
It was an electric start for Carlos Corberan’s side, playing in front of fans for the first time since the Spaniard took over last year, as they managed to take the lead within two minutes.
After Sorba Thomas and Lewis O’Brien’s link up play on the left wing, the ball found its way to Harry Toffolo who in turn fizzed a dangerous ball into the box. The cross narrowly avoided Danny Ward in the middle, although his pressure was enough to force Southport’s Adam Anson to turn it into his own net.
Town, donning their new navy-blue away strip, dominated the first half, and as a result the chances came thick and fast.
Almost instantly after taking the lead, Ward again had an opportunity that was this time saved by Cam Mason in the Southport goal, before Thomas, finding himself higher up the pitch this time, saw an effort at the near post.
Lewis O’Brien and Duane Holmes followed up with strikes of their own, both narrowly missing the target, although early on in this pre-season it was more promising signs for the season ahead.
The hosts put up a fight though, and, when the moment came, Lee Nicholls was ready and quick to tip the ball round his far post and retain the Terriers’ clean sheet.
As the half dragged on it was calling out for someone to produce a piece of magic, and that someone was Holmes.
Minutes after missing his second chance of the game, the winger made no mistake with his third, carrying the ball from a deep position, weaving through the Sandgrounders defence before taking it onto his right foot and finishing low across the keeper for 2-0 heading into the break.
After the restart, several changes were made to Carlos’ side as the squad gears up to the new Sky Bet Championship season.
The momentum flipped in the home side’s favour, and they managed to keep Ryan Schofield and the new look Town defence busy in the opening minutes of the second period. However, this allowed the chance for Thomas to show off his counter-attacking prowess.
The former Boreham Wood attacker was at the centre of Town’s attacking moves throughout the 90 minutes, taking up positions across the front three and making good runs in behind.
Thomas’ best chance came early on in the half, when the ball dropped at his feet on the edge of the box. He was able to set himself but curled his effort narrowly wide of the right post.
The tempo calmed as the game went on, with the home side kept in check by Matty Pearson and Levi Colwill at the back.
The Terriers’ best chances to add a third came late on in the half, with Josh Ruffels and Brahima Diarra both denied by fantastic saves from Mason.
The full-time whistle blew with 2-0 on the scoreboard, and Carlos’s side, having put in a good shift in today in the North West, had another 90 minutes in the tank ahead of the new season.
Huddersfield Town XI (4-3-3)
Lee Nicholls (Ryan Schofield, 46’); Harry Toffolo (Matty Daly, 70’), Naby Sarr (Levi Colwill, 46’), Matty Pearson, Ollie Turton (Ben Jackson, 77’); Jonathan Hogg (Alex Vallejo, 46’), Scott High, Lewis O’Brien (Brahima Diarra, 77’); Sorba Thomas, Danny Ward (Jordan Rhodes, 46’), Duane Holmes (Josh Ruffels, 46’)
Scorers
Adam Anson (OG) 2’, Duane Holmes 41’