My match report for Oakwell AM website...

Huddersfield Town 1-0 Barnsley

A SECOND-HALF strike from Gary Taylor-Fletcher was enough to give Huddersfield a somewhat fortuitous victory over promotion rivals Barnsley in a controversial clash at the Galpharm Stadium.

The defeat meant the Reds remained outside the top six of League One after Oldham’s point at Hartlepool last night, whilst the Terriers moved up to third.

Andy Ritchie kept an unchanged side from last weekend’s goalless draw with Bournemouth, with Tommy Wright still banned and Matt Carbon and Bobby Hassell not yet fit to return.

It was Barnsley who were the first to threaten when Paul Hayes launched a superb counter-attack with a direct run at the Town defence before squaring the ball to Chris Shuker, but the diminutive winger saw his goal-bound shot hacked to safety by skipper Jon Worthington.

Town came back well and Mark Hudson fired over from 20 yards after being neatly set up by Danny Schofield. The in-form Andy Booth then saw his near post header from Worthington’s cross well saved by visiting ‘keeper Nick Colgan. A minute later Hudson headed straight at Colgan from 12 yards.

The game’s first moment of controversy came in the 22nd minute when Clarke appeared to foul Marc Richards from behind in the area but referee Fletcher waved away Barnsley’s fierce claims for a penalty. Richards was later booked for his protestations. Howard became the second man to harshly enter the book after an alleged elbow on David Mirfin on the edge of the Terriers’ penalty area.

The visitors threatened again just after the half hour when Martin Devaney raced onto Neil Austin’s slide-rule pass, only for Mirfin to save the day with a superb block.

The first period finished in exciting fashion as first Hayes volleyed over Phil Senior’s goal from eight yards after Richards knock-down, before Hudson’s 20-yarder was well fielded by Colgan. Clarke finally picked up a deserved yellow card for persistent fouling on Richards.

Barnsley’s first-half superiority continued at the beginning of the second period as Richards managed to turn Clarke in the area but unfortunately screwed his shot wide of Senior’s right-hand post.

Barnsley seemed to have a great chance after 54 minutes as Devaney chased a ball over home defence but the ball cruelly bounced over his head in the strong wind. Town then broke straight up the other end, and with Barnsley’s defence for once exposed, TAYLOR-FLETCHER scrappily turned in Andy Holdsworth’s low right-wing cross to give Huddersfield an undeserved lead. Robbie Williams immediately replaced an apparently injured Neil Austin, with Paul Heckingbottom switching to right back.

The Reds fought on despite this setback, and the back in form Shuker hit a screaming 20-yard volley against the Town crossbar, and after Richards mis-hit a great chance from the rebound, Hayes was flagged offside. The hosts made their first change on the hour as David Graham replaced goalscorer Taylor-Fletcher in attack.

Barnsley were again harshly dealt with by Mr Fletcher three minutes later. Richards broke away down the right and was cynically hacked down from behind by the already cautioned Clarke, but much to the disgust of the Barnsley bench and supporters the defender remained on the pitch.

Barnsley’s best chance of the game arrived on 67 minutes as Shuker superbly broke away down the right, played in Hayes, and the impressive striker played a wonderful pass across the penalty area only for Richards to inexplicably miss his kick with the goal gaping.

The Reds were almost punished as Town’s star player Schofield burst into the area before blasting a fierce shot over the angle of bar and post. Andy Ritchie responded by replacing the tiring Devaney with Danny Nardiello. Hayes switched to the left flank as Nardiello took his place up front alongside Richards.

Hayes again came agonisingly close to an equaliser with 15 minutes left after Howard’s free-kick fell to him 14 yards out, but his shot narrowly missed Senior’s left hand post. A minute later Schofield went close from 18 yards after excellent work from full-back Danny Adams.

Barnsley came again though as Richards broke clear, but after dallying a little on the ball, only a half chance fell to Hayes and he looped a weak shot over the bar. Howard then made a driving run forward and was unlucky not to find Nardiello with his through ball before being muscled off the ball by the Town defence.

Sub Graham then scuffed a shot wide for the home side before Barnsley went for it by replacing Heckingbottom by Antony McParland as they went with three up front. Nardiello appeared to have a chance on the edge of the penalty area, but the assistant’s flag went up and referee Fletcher decided to book the striker for having a shot on goal. It seemed a strange decision to suggest that Barnsley were trying to waste precious time in a game in which they trailed, but it was typical of a poor overall display from the official.

Nardiello’s frustrations were clear and he eventually went too far in his complaints as Fletcher produced a second yellow card and subsequently a red one after losing patience with the forward.

The sending off took the wind out of Barnsley’s sails somewhat, but they still had time to create one more clear chance, but Howard skied his shot from McParland’s excellent assist from the left to end any hopes of a positive result from the game.

HUDDERSFIELD TOWN: Senior; Holdsworth, Mirfin, Clarke, Adams; Brandon (Ahmed 72), Worthington (c), Hudson, Schofield; Taylor-Fletcher (Graham 60), Booth.

Goal: Taylor-Fletcher 55
Subs not used: Rachubka, McAliskey, McCombe
Booking: Clarke

BARNSLEY: Colgan; Austin (Williams 55), Reid (c), Kay, Heckingbottom (McParland 83); Shuker, Howard, McPhail, Devaney (Nardiello 70); Hayes, Richards.

Subs not used: Flinders, Wroe.
Sending off: Nardiello.
Bookings: Richards, Howard, Heckingbottom, Nardiello.

Attendance: 19,052 (3,187 from Barnsley)

 

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