Huddersfield Town 2 (Vaughan 45, Lynch 65) Charlton 1 (Stewart 79).
Precisely three weeks after Charlton shlepped up the M1 to Huddersfield for`an unwanted Capital One Cup tie, the Championship fixture compiler probably split his sides laughing to be puckishly sending them on the same gruelling journey, during which they were again struck by a bolt of lightning calling itself Joel Lynch. For the second time too, against all meteorological advice to the contrary.
Allow me to explain. Lynch is a useful left wingback who has nailed down a place in Mark Robins’ workaday side. He does his stuff up and down the touchline, tucks in defensively and is well regarded at the John Smith Stadium, the hackneyed old name presumably used by the Galpharm when it’s playing away and booking in to an hotel.
One thing Robins doesn’t count on from the estimable Lynch is goalscoring. Except, of course, if Charlton are the opponents, which is when his appetite perks up somewhat. He opened the scoring in the Cup game with a raking low drive from distance, which embarrassed Ben Hamer at his near post. We didn’t know it then but he was merely warming up for a bigger prize.
In the 65th minute of this rather more important Championship match, Lynch picked up an innocuous ball just inside Charlton’s half, ambled forward, then without warning unleashed a 35-yard left-footed cannonball. Startled by its ferocity and trajectory, Hamer backtracked desperately but was unable to prevent the missile from zeroing into the top left corner of his net. He’ll need convincing that lightning never strikes twice. Best not mention it.
Lynch’s latest howitzer proved vital to the outcome of this earnest, if uninspired, clash of evenly matched rivals. It not only doubled the lead given the Terriers by an altogether more prolific source in James Vaughan but buffered them against the panic which spread alarmingly when Addicks’ debutant loanee Cameron Stewart reduced the deficit with an even better strike 11 minutes from time.
With nine league goals to his credit already this season, Vaughan is currently on fire. He had been kept relatively quiet during a largely soporific first half but remained alert as two added minutes were signalled. Anticipating the flight of a left-footed cross delivered by Adam Hammill from the right touchline, his clever movement won him enough space to glance a deft header across Hamer into the left corner. A born striker never sleeps.
The sickening suddenness, not to mention the cruel timing of Vaughan’s goal, knocked the stuffing out of the visitors. Without the injured Yann Kermorgant to spearhead their attack, they had at least managed to stifle the Terriers throughout a desultory first period. Their sole attacking contribution had been the header which Simon Church directed too close to Alex Smithies a minute before the break but their hosts had hardly been going like gangbusters themselves. The plan, however negative, was working until Vaughan stuck his oar in.
With their priorities necessarily altered, the Addicks began the second half with more urgency. Their striking deficiencies were, unfortunately, spotlighted, by the mess made by Marvin Sordell of volleying Dale Stephens chipped pass goalwards and, to a lesser extent, by the possibly harsh booking for diving meted out to Simon Church.
Chris Powell was actually in the process of replacing the out of touch Sordell with eager Callum Harriott and introducing the unknown quantity that is Cameron Stewart for a blameless Richard Wood when, smack in front of the distracted boss, Charlton’s nemesis Lynch struck his ultimately decisive goal. It briefly took the wind out of the boss’s sails though he was rewarded with lively contributions from his substitutes.
A mixture of pace and skill, Stewart revitalised the visitors. He had already showed menace when, with 11 minutes left, he set out on a left to right solo dribble, leaving a tiring posse of defenders labouring in his wake. A final drop of the shoulder provided him with a sight of Smithies’ goal and a fulminating right-footed drive from fully 25 yards did the rest.
A truly wondrous goal, Stewart’s bombshell even eclipsed Lynch’s fine effort for sheer quality but went for nothing as the Addicks, despite a spirited rally, failed to close the gap. They reduced the Terriers to yapping terror, there were abortive shouts for a penalty, a succession of corners brought Hamer up in attack and the stadium was reduced to a molten mass of nerves so familiar to regulars at The Valley. But the points stayed in West Yorkshire.
So what’s next then? Oh blimey, yeah, it’s the fixture that “dare not speak its name” against the chaps from Bermondsey. Early to bed on Friday night then (especially for Yann Kermorgant). Then hopefully a walk in the park.
Kevin Nolan’s Match Report is brought to you in association with , 294 Burnt Ash Hill, London, SE12 0QD.
Huddersfield: Smithies, Hammill (Norwood 79), Clarke, Gerrard, Dixon, Scannell (Richards 70), Clayton, Hogg (Gobern 50), Lynch, Stead, Vaughan. Not used: Bennett, Woods, Paterson, Carr.
Charlton: Hamer, Morrison, Dervite, Wood (Stewart 68), Wilson, Stephens, Jackson (Pigott 85), Pritchard, Wiggins, Sordell (Harriott 68), Church. Not used: Alnwick, Evina, Cousins, Gower. Booked: Dervite, Church, Stephens.
Referee: Stuart Attwell. Attendance 12,248.