Latics show true grit

Photo: Alan Howarth

point-blank save . . . Athletic’s on-loan winger Aidan White is denied at the near post by Huddersfield Town goalkeeper Ian Bennett.

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Huddersfield 0, Athletic 0
A DERBY as bleak and unforgiving as the barren hills separating these two towns ended with honours even, as Athletic consolidated their play-off spot in npower League One.

Without Dale Stephens — missing for the first time this season through illness — Paul Dickov’s visitors had to grit their teeth and battle through a dour contest at the Galpharm Stadium to take a point.

Getting the ball down and playing football took a back seat as direct Huddersfield sought to play off target man Alan Lee.

Unfortunately but perhaps inevitably, Athletic were drawn into the physical contest and were only able to perform fluidly in patches.

Had either team claimed a winner, their cross-Pennine counterparts would have had just reason to grumble.

Though Anthony Pilkington hit a post in the second half with a misdirected cross, only one deliberate, clear scoring chance arrived for each side.

Lively Huddersfield winger Pilkington produced a flying save from Ben Amos with a beautifully-struck 25-yard free-kick in the opening period.

And in the second, Athletic’s Reuben Reid failed to dig out the ball from under his feet to generate sufficient power to beat home captain Peter Clarke on the goal-line.

Athletic fully merited their draw. And when you compare the two clubs’ vastly differing resources — Town’s aspirational set-up on and off the field may rub some up the wrong way, but it is undoubtedly slick — a haul of four points from two matches against Lee Clark’s side this season is a job more than well done for Dickov.

Possibly the most striking thing about this particular derby was referee Andy Woolmer’s refusal to allow home striker Alan Lee the protection he felt he deserved.

At times, the well-travelled target man — who led the line well — went to the floor under challenges like a man half his considerable size, leading to plenty of home fans calling for fouls which didn’t exist.

Dickov will also feel his side were on the end of rough justice in the incident which led to Chris Taylor leaving the field injured.

Playing in a central midfield role in the absence of Stephens, Taylor put himself about and wound up the home support as is his wont.

But his participation in the game was ended by a horrible over-the-top challenge by Lee Peltier — the player apologised to Taylor as he lay prone — which Woolmer curiously let slide without a card.

Athletic kicked off the game with the excellent Filipe Morias operating wide on the right, on the opposite flank to Aidan White.

And, snapping into tackles and enjoying most of the possession, Huddersfield were up against it in the opening 10 minutes.

Town worked their way back into a contest which contained precious little goalmouth action in its opening half-hour, with the referee’s whistle regularly punctuating the play.

Athletic captain Reuben Hazell was booked shortly after the half-hour after a series of fouls on home players.

Pilkington’s rasping drive which extended Amos was the game’s first meaningful shot on target, but generally Athletic were dealing well with long balls intended to set free wingers Gary Roberts and Pilkington, playing either side of Lee in a three-pronged attack.

Huddersfield almost scored only seconds after half-time.

Amos came to the edge of his area but Hazell played the ball past him and was forced into a superb recovery to block Lee’s shot aimed towards an empty goal.

Soon after, Athletic had a pair of chances of their own in quick succession.

Lovely interplay between Morais and Lee down the right led to the former player crossing for White at the far post, whose volley at goal was blocked by ’keeper Ian Bennett at his near post.

White then worked his way past Jack Hunt and pulled the ball back to Reid — on his starting debut for the club, playing alongside Oumare Tounkara up front — who scooped out a shot from between his legs which Clarke cleared from his own line.

Taylor was booked for dissent after Trotman was laughably penalised for a phantom ‘foul’ on Lee and as the half progressed, the home team had plenty of pressure — especially when substitute Danny Cadamarteri was introduced — without creating too much.

Peltier’s bruising tackle on Taylor ended the Athletic’s man’s involvement after 68 minutes as Ritchie Jones was introduced.

Reid was booked for a foul and Trotman had to be alert to head clear a Cadamarteri cross as Roberts lurked behind him.

Jamie McCombe headed well wide from a Pilkington corner and Kevin Kilbane’s overhead kick was also of-target, while Morais went close in injury time when his touch was slightly too heavy inside the area in order to get a shot off.