Macca Returns

By: Martin Copass
Date: 24/01/2002

AS EXPECTED, John McDermott made his eagerly awaited return to action after a near five-month lay-off. He started from the off, and played all of the first half against Huddersfield reserves in their 3-1 victory.

With the game only three minutes old, Town took the lead through Chris Bolder after he headed in from close range from a David Smith corner. The rest of the half was an end-to-end game without there being too many clear-cut chances, although there were efforts from McDermott and Ward which never really troubled the keeper.

There were a couple of half chances for Huddersfield, but the defences were on top and chances were few and far between with neither goalkeeper being asked to do too much. John McDermott was not exactly overworked either as most of the first half seemed top be played down the left side.

Paul Crager, the trialist from Middlesboro was having another good game playing in the centre of Town’s defence, and he may be worth taking a longer look at as the season progresses.

John McDermott did not appear for the second half, and Graham Hockless replaced him. This was not totally unexpected, as Macca is eased back into playing in match conditions.

Town increased their lead after 56 minutes, when Michael Jeffery scored at the second attempt when converting an Alan Neilson cross. Better was to come when another corner from Smith was converted by Hockless to make it 3-0. The linesman gave this goal as it was cleared from the goal by the Huddersfield defence, but the official was on the ball to confirm that it had crossed the line, much to the Huddersfield defence's dismay.

The Terriers pressed forward more as the game wore on, and Dutch striker Wijnhard hit he bar from 25 yards with Croudson beaten. Huddersfield did pull one back, when a well-hit volley by the substitute (no name on team sheet!!) gave them some reward for their efforts.

Bradley Allen missed a close range effort that he might normally expect to score, but that was really about it as the game drifted to the end without many more goal scoring opportunities.

Shame it was a cup game, as the points would have been useful to their promotion hopes, but at least we saw McDermott back and also Rowan, who had played 30 minutes of the second half after replacing Jeffery.

There is another opportunity for the returning players to play again next week, when the reserves entertain Lincoln City at Blundell Park kick off 2pm.

Town: Croudson, Neilson, Morgan, Ward, Crager, Downes (Kirwin), McDermott (Hockless), Bolder, Allen, Jeffery (Rowan), Smith,

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