Wilder checks out the lads to see who will play.

By Highroadwellian
July 19 2003

The results are not as important as seeing where each player will fit on the team. With time left before the season starts Wilder will seek where his talent is.

Preseason Match Report
July 19th

First Half.
3 minutes: A through ball to the right wing, let the Huddersfield defence in tatters Edwards in no man's land as Mallon cut down the right flank, with an ocean between himself and the goalie, cut into the box and shot high and left into the top corner, leaving Gray clutching thin air 1-0.
23 minutes: Stead got on the end of a through ball on the penalty spot, a neat turn and a very cool shot leaving Sollitt sprawling around as if he was swimming in Halifax Baths 1-1.
40 minutes: Hudson received a headed ball (possibly from Lee) near the edge of the box, a first time volley straight into the top left of Gray's goal. This is the kind of shot that shows he has played at a much higher level 2-1.
Halifax on top most of the first half, with Elam and Mallon down the left and right causing both Peter Jackson and Terry Yorath palpitations on the touchline. Lee put himself about a bit in the air, with quite a few good flick ons. I apologise for calling him a "prima donna" last week, he looks capable of being a good partner for Parke. Hudson also had a very good first half. Killeen unfortunate not to receive much of the ball.
Huddersfield came out two minutes before kick off, with their tails between their legs, I think Peter Jackson must have raised the dressing room roof a little, during the orange juice break.
Second Half.
58 & 59 minutes: Two minutes of relentless Halifax pressure. A goalmouth scramble in front of the Huddersfield goal, in which three clear cut chances were cleared by the Huddersfield defence, a post, then eventually the ball kicked off the line. Halifax straight back with Farrell who rolled the ball into the net, but was clearly spotted offside by the referee- Mr Nicholson- incidentally the same ref as last week. Then Cullen played a sublime through ball for Midgley, who just beat the last defender, but looked off balance, when it looked like he should have scored.
61 minutes: Wilder's substitutions were obviously planned to give all players a run out, (except the sub goalie Ryan Poole for some reason). The team was reshuffled with Midgley partnering Farrell up front. McAuley played in front of Sandwith as Elam's replacement, Though I personally felt he should have pushed Sandwith up into the middle instead.
70 minutes: Midgley took the ball deep down the left wing, left the right back for dead as he cut inside and delivered a ball just too deep for the onrushing Cullen. I remembered Midgley used to do this for Hartlepool when they used to play us.
82 minutes: Newby received a through ball, split the Halifax offside trap, hit a good left shot past Sollitt 2-2.
84 minutes: Fowler found himself with space after some good Huddersfield play, Sollitt got a finger and half a mit to it, but it agonisingly rolled into the net to the satisfaction of the large Huddersfield contingent behind the goal 2-3. Hope he is not going to be regular choice between the sticks.
If I was Peter Jackson tonight I would sack the lot, except- Thompson, Stead, Newby, Schofield and Booth. This would mean that he needs an entire defence and half a middle replacing. Halifax would have won if Wilder had managed the substitutions with more tact. Jackson and Yorath went home with a win, but they won't be happy with what they saw.

Halifax Town 2 (Mallon 3, Hudson 40)
Sollitt, Hockenhull, Sandwith, Hudson (Cullen 45), Monington, Garnett (Stoneman 57), Mallon (Senior 63), Midgley, Lee (Farrell 48), Killeen (Bushell 45), Elam (McAuley 63).
Huddersfield Town 3 (Stead 23, Newby 82, Fowler 84)
Gray, Booty, Edwards, Fowler. Yates, Hughes (Ahmed 86), Thompson, Holland (Booth 61), Stead (Scott 61), Newby, Schofield (Holdsworth 61).



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