Huddersfield Town 2-2 AFC Bournemouth - The Report

Huddersfield Town story posted by Sean Makin on 04/09/2010
Huddersfield Town boss Lee Clark described his side as "Jekyll and Hyde" and he was right after Town could only muster a draw at home to Bournemouth after a solid display in a 3-1 win the previous week over Charlton Athletic. Credit to the Cherriers though, manager Eddie Howe had a organised young team that battled hard and were rewarded with taking a point back down the South Coast.Huddersfield Town 2-2 AFC Bournemouth - The Report

A draw was a fair result considering Town's lacklustre first half performance. Josh McQuoid had put Bournemouth in front before Antony Kay equalized for the Terriers. Gary Roberts scored from the spot just after the break and Town fans thought the team might kick on and go in for the kill, but Town took their foot off the gas and Marc Pugh snuck in to head home a late equalizer.

Town were without Scott Arfield and Graham Carey as both were on Under-21 duty with Scotland and Republic of Ireland respectively. Clark was delighted that the England U-21 manager Stuart Pearce had allowed to release goalkeeper Alex Smithies to play against the Cherries and return to the U-21 squad. Lee Peltier was back from his one-match ban, youngster Liam Ridehalgh kept his place at left back and Anthony Pilkington replaced Carey on the wing.

Town started sluggish and Bournemouth's extra man in the midfield was keeping Antony Kay and Joey Gudjonsson at bay. Ridehalgh was kept busy as Liam Feeney caused him and the rest of the Town defence problems all afternoon.

Referee Eddie Ilderton let the game flow despite some robust challenges from either side and some should have brought a yellow card eventually he booked one player from each team.

Bournemouth went ahead in the 33rd minute when Marvin Bartley got the better of Gudjonsson and slipped the ball to McQuoid, the young striker, who scored twice past Notts County the previous week, coolly curled his shot into the far corner of the next giving Smithies no chance.

Town equalised in the second minute of first half stoppage time. A smash-and-grab moment as it was Town's first effort on target. Kay powered in a header from around 12 yards from a Roberts corner.

Three minutes after the restart Town got themselves in front, the referee had no hesitation in pointing to the spot when Roberts was brought down in the box by Bartley. Roberts picked himself up and slotted the spot kick into the bottom corner sending Jalal the wrong way.

It looked as though Town would seal the win and briefly looking their usual selves for a 10-15 minute period. Alan Lee fired over, Peter Clarke swung a boot at a cross but failed to connect.

Roberts was only Town's real threat throughout the game with his jinxing runs and turning the Cherries Lee Bradbury inside out. Just past the hour again Roberts left Bradbury for dead and crossed to the back post from the left for Lee to crack an effort onto the post.

Town started to then lose the momentum and labour on, sure enough Bournemouth got back into the game with four minutes to go. Cherries sub Harry Arter played a clever chipped cross into the box and Pugh snuck in to head home past Smithies. Lee went close again in the dying moments but it was too little too late.

Sean's Star Man - Gary Roberts
The only Town player who looked a threat. As mention kept turning Bradbury inside out, was lively throughout the second half.

Teams:

Town: Smithies, Peltier, P Clarke, McCombe, Ridehalgh, Pilkington (Croft 76), Kay, Gudjonsson, Roberts, Rhodes (Novak 62), Lee.
Subs not used: Bennett, Johnson, Atkinson, Chippendale, Garner.

Bournemouth: Jalal, Garry, Pearce, Bartley, Wiggins, Cooper (Arter 73), Pugh, Robinson, Feeney (Cummings 90), McQuoid, Bradbury (Holland 64)
Subs not used: Nelson, Taylor, Stockley, Ings.

Referee: Eddie Ilderston (Tyne and Wear)
Attendance: 12,426

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