Report: Brighton 2-3 Huddersfield Town
Huddersfield Town story posted by Sean Makin on 02/05/2011
Huddersfield Town's on-loan winger Danny Ward hit a last minute winner to keep pressure on 2nd place Southampton as The Terriers took all three points from the south coast with an impressive 3-2 victory over League One champions Brighton in what was there last home game at the Withdean Stadium.
It is also worth mentioning that the 'pedal for pounds' cycled from Huddersfield to the Withdean Stadium during the week and made it in time for the kick-off. Congratulations to all those that took part and the money they raised for the club's academy and the Yorkshire Air Ambulance.
Lee Clark made one change side that beat Dagenham and Redbridge last Monday, Jordan Rhodes was dropped to the bench and Joey Gudjonsson came back into midfield in a 4-3-3 formation.
Right from the off Lee Peltier headed over from a Town corner and Scott Arfield struck a volley straight at Peter Brezovan but The Terriers went in front as early as the 8th minute.
Gary Naysmith played a free-kick into Benik Afobe in the Brighton penalty area, with his back to goal Afobe superbly turned Gordan Greer and placed the ball into the bottom corner to put Town in front.
Brighton nearly hit back Town immediately when Chris Wood fed Ashley Barnes in on goal but Town keeper Ian Bennett excellently turned away the ball at full stretch. Inigo Calderon hit a shot that flashed across the face of goal and with 20 minutes gone Elliott Bennett struck a 30-yard free-kick just over the bar.
Barnes hit the side netting with a shot inside the box and Wood hit the bar for the Seagulls from a superb right wing cross by Liam Bridcutt.
The home side had most of the possession and were looking the most likely to score but Town held on to their advantage going into the break.
Just minutes into the second half Brighton were back on level terms when referee Mr Tanner judged Peliter to had brought down Elliott Bennett in the Town box. Barnes' spot kick was saved by Ian Bennett but the rebound fell kindly to the striker who headed the ball back into the net.
Brighton pressed after getting back on level terms, Craig Noone's quickly taken free-kick was denied by a good save from Ian Bennett after Gudjonsson had brought the midfielder down on the edge of the box.
Just after the hour mark Town were back in front with thanks to Brighton's Inigo Calderon. Gudjonsson took a deep free-kick too early and when it looked ease for Calderon to deal with but the Spanish defender's chest back to his goalkeeper was woeful and Afobe nipped in to stroke the ball past a helped Brezovan in the Brighton goal.
Town almost put the game to bed with a fine counter attack, Afobe defended a Town corner well which allowed Ward to break away, the on-loan Bolton winger fed Gary Roberts through on goal but Brezovan denied the former Ipswich man with a fine save.
Minutes after Brezovan's fine save the home side got back on level terms. Former Scunthorpe midfielder Matt Sparrow, who has a habit of scoring against The Terriers, wasn't picked up as he burst into the area and put the home side level with 69 minutes played.
Barnes again his the side netting and Brezovan made another smart save to deny Jamie McCombe's header from a Roberts free-kick and the Brighton stopper denied the big defender again moments later. At the other end Ian Bennett showed he was just as good pulling off a great save to deny Gary Hart's low drive as both sides went in search of the winner.
The winning goal and three points went to Huddersfield Town when in the last minute Afobe fed Ward just inside the Brighton penalty area and the winger managed to fire a low shot into the bottom corner to ensure that Town kept the pressure on Southampton and stretched Town's unbeaten run to 24 matches.
If Plymouth do Town a favour on Monday afternoon and manage to deny Southampton all three points then the final game of the season is going to be a nail biter. The Saints have a superior goal difference to The Terriers and are the favourites to cement that second place in League One. The one good this is that if Town do end up in the play-offs, and are they guaranteed 3rd place, we are in excellent form and it shows we are capable of grinding out results as well as coming back after being pegged back as they did twice against Brighton. I believe Lee Clark's men have the right character and desire to get through the lottery of the play-offs if it comes to it.
Sean's Star Man - Benik Afobe
Two goals and an assist for the young striker on loan from Arsenal. Brilliant turning of the defender for the first, chased a lost cause for the second and fed Danny Ward for the third. Worked hard all game keep it up Benik!
Teams:
Brighton: Brezovan, Painter, Greer, Elphick, Calderon, E. Bennett, Dicker, Bridcutt, Noone (Sparrow 65), Wood (Hart 65), Barnes.
Subs not used: Poke, Navarro, Holroyd, Dunk, Kishishev
Town: I. Bennett, Peltier, P Clarke, McCombe, Naysmith (Lee 87), Hunt (Ward 54), Roberts, Arfield, Gudjonsson (Rhodes 74), Kilbane, Afobe.
Subs not used: Colgan, Kay, Cadamarteri, Novak.
Attendance: 8,416
Referee: S Tanner.
It is also worth mentioning that the 'pedal for pounds' cycled from Huddersfield to the Withdean Stadium during the week and made it in time for the kick-off. Congratulations to all those that took part and the money they raised for the club's academy and the Yorkshire Air Ambulance.
Lee Clark made one change side that beat Dagenham and Redbridge last Monday, Jordan Rhodes was dropped to the bench and Joey Gudjonsson came back into midfield in a 4-3-3 formation.
Right from the off Lee Peltier headed over from a Town corner and Scott Arfield struck a volley straight at Peter Brezovan but The Terriers went in front as early as the 8th minute.
Gary Naysmith played a free-kick into Benik Afobe in the Brighton penalty area, with his back to goal Afobe superbly turned Gordan Greer and placed the ball into the bottom corner to put Town in front.
Brighton nearly hit back Town immediately when Chris Wood fed Ashley Barnes in on goal but Town keeper Ian Bennett excellently turned away the ball at full stretch. Inigo Calderon hit a shot that flashed across the face of goal and with 20 minutes gone Elliott Bennett struck a 30-yard free-kick just over the bar.
Barnes hit the side netting with a shot inside the box and Wood hit the bar for the Seagulls from a superb right wing cross by Liam Bridcutt.
The home side had most of the possession and were looking the most likely to score but Town held on to their advantage going into the break.
Just minutes into the second half Brighton were back on level terms when referee Mr Tanner judged Peliter to had brought down Elliott Bennett in the Town box. Barnes' spot kick was saved by Ian Bennett but the rebound fell kindly to the striker who headed the ball back into the net.
Brighton pressed after getting back on level terms, Craig Noone's quickly taken free-kick was denied by a good save from Ian Bennett after Gudjonsson had brought the midfielder down on the edge of the box.
Just after the hour mark Town were back in front with thanks to Brighton's Inigo Calderon. Gudjonsson took a deep free-kick too early and when it looked ease for Calderon to deal with but the Spanish defender's chest back to his goalkeeper was woeful and Afobe nipped in to stroke the ball past a helped Brezovan in the Brighton goal.
Town almost put the game to bed with a fine counter attack, Afobe defended a Town corner well which allowed Ward to break away, the on-loan Bolton winger fed Gary Roberts through on goal but Brezovan denied the former Ipswich man with a fine save.
Minutes after Brezovan's fine save the home side got back on level terms. Former Scunthorpe midfielder Matt Sparrow, who has a habit of scoring against The Terriers, wasn't picked up as he burst into the area and put the home side level with 69 minutes played.
Barnes again his the side netting and Brezovan made another smart save to deny Jamie McCombe's header from a Roberts free-kick and the Brighton stopper denied the big defender again moments later. At the other end Ian Bennett showed he was just as good pulling off a great save to deny Gary Hart's low drive as both sides went in search of the winner.
The winning goal and three points went to Huddersfield Town when in the last minute Afobe fed Ward just inside the Brighton penalty area and the winger managed to fire a low shot into the bottom corner to ensure that Town kept the pressure on Southampton and stretched Town's unbeaten run to 24 matches.
If Plymouth do Town a favour on Monday afternoon and manage to deny Southampton all three points then the final game of the season is going to be a nail biter. The Saints have a superior goal difference to The Terriers and are the favourites to cement that second place in League One. The one good this is that if Town do end up in the play-offs, and are they guaranteed 3rd place, we are in excellent form and it shows we are capable of grinding out results as well as coming back after being pegged back as they did twice against Brighton. I believe Lee Clark's men have the right character and desire to get through the lottery of the play-offs if it comes to it.
Sean's Star Man - Benik Afobe
Two goals and an assist for the young striker on loan from Arsenal. Brilliant turning of the defender for the first, chased a lost cause for the second and fed Danny Ward for the third. Worked hard all game keep it up Benik!
Teams:
Brighton: Brezovan, Painter, Greer, Elphick, Calderon, E. Bennett, Dicker, Bridcutt, Noone (Sparrow 65), Wood (Hart 65), Barnes.
Subs not used: Poke, Navarro, Holroyd, Dunk, Kishishev
Town: I. Bennett, Peltier, P Clarke, McCombe, Naysmith (Lee 87), Hunt (Ward 54), Roberts, Arfield, Gudjonsson (Rhodes 74), Kilbane, Afobe.
Subs not used: Colgan, Kay, Cadamarteri, Novak.
Attendance: 8,416
Referee: S Tanner.
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