Huddersfield Town 2 Walsall 0 - report

Last updated : 26 April 2008 By Footymad Previewer
Danny Schofield and Andy Booth were both on target for Huddersfield Town as managerless Walsall slipped to their third consecutive defeat.

Schofield, making his penultimate appearance for the Terriers before departing for pastures new in the summer, broke the deadlock with a crisp shot on 40 minutes after collecting a pass from Andy Holdsworth.

Huddersfield controlled long periods of the first half, with Holdsworth and captain Rob Page testing the reflexes of Walsall goalker Clayton Ince.

Walsall responded to going behind through Alex Nicholls and the dangerous Kevin Betsy, who both fired shots narrowly off target.

However, the Saddlers' resistance was broken ten minutes after the interval, as Booth blasted a header into the bottom corner from a pinpoint cross from John Worthington.

A mix-up in the Walsall defence on 66 minutes saw Huddersfield starlet James Berrett pick out Booth unmarked in the penalty area, but the 34-year-old striker curled his drive off-target.

Betsy twice went close to pulling Walsall back into the game, but he had a rasping drive beaten away by Matt Glennon and a sliced shot that drifted wide.

Huddersfield caretaker boss Gerry Murphy made a double substitution in the final ten minutes, which included bringing on young forward Daniel Broadbent for his fifth appearance in the first team. He replaced Schofield, who received a rapturous ovation from the Town supporters.

The outstanding Berett provided Broadbent with an inch-perfect pass to open his goalscoring account, however, he was denied by a good save from Ince.

In stoppage time, Town midfielder Michael Collins nearly put the icing on the cake after attempting an audacious long-range shot which looked to be heading in to the far post. Ultimately, it went agonisingly wide to Ince's delight.