City punish wasteful Terriers

Richard Duffy`s first half header sealed victory for Exeter City in a hard fought clash with Huddersfield at a nippy Galpharm stadium.

Duffy escaped his marker to power in Ryan Harley`s 36th minute corner against the run of play. Exeter contained the hosts for long periods to complete a memorable victory.

Paul Tisdale stuck with the same XI that triumphed of Notts County last time out, which left only four survivors from the team that got thrashed at Huddersfield last season.

City began in positive fashion with James Dunne having the first shot in anger, blazing over from 12 yards after good work from Harley and Jamie Cureton.

A frustrating afternoon in front of goal for Huddersfield began when Jordan Rhodes saw his early header come crashing back off the bar with Artur Krysiak well beaten.

Pressure on City`s defence became increasingly frequent as the half went on, but with Matt Taylor at the heart of the rearguard action the Grecians proved tough to break down.

Huddersfield`s misery at failing to break a resilient City down was compounded when Duffy ghosted in to score his second goal of the season and City`s first of the campaign from a corner.

It could have been two just four minutes later Troy Archibald-Henville`s headed home another Harley corner as he rose highest at the far post, but he did so illegally according to the referee, a decision which baffled both sets of players.

The visitors half time lead was met with predictable boos from the unimpressed home support.

City new that Huddersfield`s wealth of attacking players would ask many questions in the second half and so it proved.

Terriers boss Lee Clark introduced target man Alan Lee at half time in a tactical rethink.

Tisdale also made adjustments, moving Archibald Henville into midfield as Steve Tully and Scott Golbourne dropped back to play in the conventional full-back positions.

Krysiak was immediately called into action after the break, flinging himself down to his right to deny Anthony Pilkington.

City`s hard work was almost all thrown away as Steve Tully misjudged a header which fell at the feet of Rhodes who rounded Krysiak before in inexplicably missing the target.

City were standing firm, Taylor and Duffy both produced excellent last ditched tackles to deny goal scoring opportunities and Krysiak swallowed up every cross that came into the box as the keeper had easily his best game for the club to date.

The three points were almost snatched from City with seconds remaining as Scott Arfield unleashed a stunning left foot volley that smashed into the angle of post and bar.

Joe Garner then went close with a header but the Grecians held on to take all three points back to Devon.

The victory is City`s most impressive on the road in League 1 and the several hundred strong travelling support were understandably ecstatic come the final whistle.

City: Krysiak, Duffy, Taylor, Archibald-Henville, Tully, Golbourne, Sercombe, Dunne, Harley, Cureton (Nardiello), Logan (O`flynn)

Unused subs: P Jones, B Jones, Edwards, Cozic, Thomson

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