Woodwork woe for Terriers as Robins claim draw

By Peegs
December 7 2003

The Robins kept only their second clean sheet of the season but were indebted to the Alfred McAlpine Stadium woodwork as Huddersfield twice hit the post. The Robins battled hard to earn their second draw in 2 seasons away at Huddersfield after last years thrilling 3-3 draw.

John Ward made one change to the Cheltenham side that beat struggling Carlisle last week, Jamie Victory returned from injury to replace the injured Richard Forsyth.

The Terriers hit the post as early as the 2nd minute. Danny Schofield was allowed to run forward from midfield and he unleashed a shot from 20 yards that had Higgs beaten, luckily for Cheltenham the ball rebounded off the post, the spherical object fell right to the feet of top scorer and £1million Sunderland target Jonathan Stead, however he blazed over from close range.

You felt that this could be a long afternoon for the Robins infront of 8,442 fans - the largest attendance in Division 3 that day -, however the Robins created a few opportunities, firstly Grant McCann - restored to the left hand side of midfield - dragged a shot wide of goal, this was followed shortly after by a Martin Devaney shot that was blocked by a Huddersfield defender.

The 13th minute was to prove far from unlucky for Cheltenham as once again the woodwork came to the rescue. A through ball by Jonathan Stead sent Schofield clear, however once again the attacking player would be denied by the woodwork.

Andy Booth showed all his experience when he tested higgs with a powerful shot from a Nathan Brown cross, however Higgs was equal to the test as he turned away the ex Sheffield Wednesday mans shot for a corner kick.

4 minutes before the break John Finnigan could have given the Robins the lead. Finnigan robbed Lee Fowler of the ball mid way inside the Huddersfield half, the ex Lincoln man fired a shot at goal that had to be turned behind by Senior in the home goal.

H/T 0-0

10 minutes into the second half Damian Spencer nearly claimed his 7th goal of the campaign. A cross from Devaney was met with a powerful header by the big man, however the ball sailed just wide of the goal with Senior stranded.

Higgs again foiled big money target Jonathan Staed when the tall striker received the ball unmarked in the box, he struck a shot powerfully at goal that Higgs managed to tip over the bar.

The Robins were holding on for their first clean sheet since the 0-0 home draw with Oxford back in September. Bob Taylor came to the rescue with a quater of an hour left when back defending at a corner. Tall defender Nat Brown plundered a header at goal but Taylor was in the right place at the right time to hack the ball clear. Certainly in the last couple of weeks Bob has been earning his money.

Huddersfield were throwing all they had forward in the closing stages trying to make it 8 wins out of 8 in a row in the league at home, however it was nearly Cheltenham who nicked all 3 points with the last move of the game. Martin Devaney ran the length of the pitch to the Huddersfield byline, Spencer had ran into the box and was waiting for a pull back, however Devaney could not pull the ball back far enough and Senior was able to get in the way of the ball.

The full time whistle went and the Cheltenham players were cheered of the pitch by the travelling fans. A result we would have been happy with before hand and we certainly rode are luck on the day, but we have been due some this season!

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F/T 0-0

HUDDERSFIELD TOWN: Senior, Hughes (Sodje 46), Clarke, Scott (Onibuje 80), Brown, Schofield, Carss (Edwards 74), Fowler, Lloyd, Booth, Stead.

CHELTENHAM TOWN : Higgs, Bird, M.Duff, Brough, Victory, Devaney, Yates, Finnigan, McCann, Taylor, Spencer

Attendance 8,442