Impressive Addicks end Huddersfield’s record-breaking run

Built as the match of the weekend in the Football League, League One leaders Charlton Athletic tightened their grip on top spot whilst ending Huddersfield Town’s remarkable 43-game unbeaten league run. Two first half goals from the menacing Yann Kermorgant and Hogan Ephraim were enough to extinguish the Terriers glowing fire and condemn their promotion rivals to a first league defeat since December of last year.

In front of anticipant crowd of over 18,000, the Football League’s top goal scorer Bradley Wright-Phillips had the first real opening but his low drive was comfortably dealt with by Huddersfield’s experienced goalkeeper Ian Bennett. Influential winger Scott Arfield had the visitor’s first chance of the evening but his shot from the edge of the penalty area safely landed into the arms of the impressive Ben Hamer in the Charlton goal.

With tackles flying in from both sides, the match became a scrappy, midfield battle as both teams looked to gain the upper hand. Despite lacking any potent threat early on, the Addicks grabbed a 23^rd minute lead when the powerful Kermorgant rose majestically to nod a header over the stranded Bennett from a pinpoint Danny Green free kick to land the first punch in a bruising encounter. The setback seemed to spur the visitors forward as the match became an end to end battle with Huddersfield beginning to dictate possession and cause problems of their own. Gary Roberts whipped in a dangerous low cross that needed the intervention from Hamer to deny a certain equaliser.

The industrious, attacking response from the Londoners rewarded them with a second four minutes before the break. Green’s quickly taken throw was helped into the path of Wright-Phillips, the striker was bravely denied by Bennett before the ball eventually found its way to the QPR loanee Ephraim who, amidst the chaos, slammed the rebound into the empty net to give the Addicks breathing space going into the break.

The manner in which the second period began, gave the impression that the Terriers were unlikely to mount a comeback. Green’s long throw caused panic in the Town defence before Kermorgant looped a header against the cross bar to the relief of Lee Clark’s men. After a dominant opening, the Addicks began to retreat as Huddersfield pressed for a route back into the match. Andy Hughes’ wayward pass invited John Parkin forward, the big striker found substitute Danny Ward who’s cross swerved and bounced back off of the cross bar to suggest that the Terriers were able to cause the host’s concern.

The visitor’s were now in full flow and began to show glimpses of why they were able to go 11 months without a league defeat. Parkin connected wonderfully to a left wing cross only to see his shot thump the base of the post with a slight deflection from the superb Hamer. The raging Huddersfield storm was constantly being thwarted by a resolute and firm Charlton back line that had conceded just 14 times so far this season. The intimidating Kermorgant was then sadly stretched off after falling awkwardly to the reverberating sound of applause from the home support. As the match drifted into stoppage time Damian Johnson volleyed over the visitor’s last chance to salvage a consolation to delay an inevitable end to an extraordinary unbeaten sequence.

Charlton had absorbed a tremendous amount of second half pressure to extend their lead at the top of the table to seven points. The incentive of becoming the first league victor over Huddersfield since December has clearly spurred the Addicks forward to the bigger incentive of a return to the Championship.