The Weston Homes Community Stadium is still waiting for its first goal after Town and Colchester drew 0-0 in our opening League One away game of the season. A flowing first-half gave way to a battling second, but Town probably created the better chances throughout the game and Danny Cadamarteri, Andy Holdsworth and Andy Booth had good chances to score in the game. Colchester winger Mark Yeates came closest, hitting the bar with a free-kick.
Town boss Stan Ternent once again lined his side up in a 4-4-2 formation, with Matt Glennon playing in goal behind a back four of Robbie Williams, Andy Butler, skipper Chris Lucketti and Andy Holdsworth. Gary Roberts and Michael Flynn occupied the right and left wings respectively with Jon Worthington partnering Jim Goodwin in the centre of the park, leaving the returning Andy Booth to partner Danny Cadamarteri up front.
The home side started the game brightly, but it was Town who crafted the first effort in the third minute. A long-throw from the left side, taken by Flynn, found the ever-dependable head of Andy Booth at the near post and after a quick interchange of headers between Roberts and Cadamarteri, Andy Holdsworth volleyed over from 12 yards out at the back post when well positioned.
A series of set-plays followed for the Terriers and Colchester looked ill at ease as our big defenders flooded forward in support, but they survived and crafted their own chance in the 9th minute; big striker Clive Platt getting in front of Lucketti to connect with a near post cross from the left, forcing Matt Glennon to push the ball around the post.
The Town dugout was right in front of the press box and Assistant Manager Ronnie Jepson was vocal in the early stages of the game. On the stroke of 12 minutes, Gary Roberts picked up a poor clearance from United goalkeeper Gerken on halfway and attempted a spectacular volley into the unguarded net, but his effort lacked the necessary power and direction and drifted wide.
Town's left flank was proving productive in the first quarter of an hour and good linkup play between Flynn and Williams allowed the latter to cross deep for Andy Butler to head wide in the 16th minute; the big centre-back having remained up field after an initial long throw.
Winger Roberts was lively again on the right and hit a 30-yard free-kick straight into the hands of 'keeper Gerken in the 19th minute after he had been fouled by Kem Izzet in midfield.
Town were creating the better chances and Andy Booth went very close to scoring in the 22nd minute, hitting a dipping volley just over the bar of the stationary Gerken from 25 yards out after collecting a Cadamarteri knock-down. A minute later, Boothy headed an out-swinging Robbie Williams corner over the bar at the back post.
Colchester still carried a threat going forward and it took a brilliant block from Captain Lucketti to deny right-back John White a clear shooting opportunity after he had come in from the right side on a mazy dribble, beating three men.
BOOKING - Jim Goodwin became the first player to enter referee Shoebridge's book in the 25th minute for a foul on Kem Izzet. The former Scunthorpe man misplaced a pass and in his keenness to win the ball back, went in late on the opposition midfielder.
Colchester winger Mark Yeates was their biggest threat down the right flank and he hit the bar from a free-kick in the 29th minute. Midfielder Johnnie Jackson was brought down by Goodwin right on the edge of the box and the winger stepped up, floating a clever free-kick onto the top of Matt Glennon's bar.
Town fought back with a route one move two minutes later. A big clearance from Holdsworth was flicked on well by Booth and Danny Cadamarteri outpaced defender Paul Reid onto the ball before advancing into the box. Unfortunately, Cads fired wide under heavy pressure from the defender.
BOOKED - Colchester defender Matt Lockwood in the 35th minute for a crude challenge on Danny Cadamarteri; however, he let play continue after the foul with Gary Roberts in possession before going back to caution the culprit.
The game entered a quiet period thereafter, but Cadamarteri's runs out wide when Town were attacking were providing a good outlet. His 39th minute cross was glanced wide at the back post by the head of strike partner Booth.
BOOKING - Robbie Williams dragged flying winger Yeates to the ground when Colchester tried to break following a Town attack in the 42nd minute and was rightly booked by the referee.
The half finished following 2 minutes of added time and the fact that the scores were still level was probably a fair reflection of the balance of play. Colchester looked fairly good going forward, mainly thanks to the talented Yeates down the right flank who had hit the bar, but the Terriers had probably created the better chances throughout with Holdsworth and Cadamarteri both going close.
HALF-TIME: COLCHESTER UNITED 0 HUDDERSFIELD TOWN 0
Unsurprisingly given the encouraging first-half performance of his side, Stan Ternent made no changes to his team during the interval. Now attacking the goal in front of the travelling Town support, they started the second-half on the front foot.
BOOKING - Town did try to break in the 57th minute, but Danny Cadamarteri had two men to beat and having lost the ball lunged in late on defender Paul Reid - earning a booking from the referee.
By that point the home side were putting the Town defence under constant pressure, but thus far they were holding strong. One break from the Terriers in the 62nd minute caused an almighty scramble in the Colchester box; Danny Cadamarteri beating defender Reid on the left side before squaring the ball to Jon Worthington whose shot was blocked. Town fans were screaming for a handball as follow-up efforts from Roberts and Goodwin were all blocked too; eventually the U's broke and Clive Platt should have done better with an effort he skied at the other end.
SUB - Colchester boss Williams made his first change as Town attacked in the 68th minute, bringing on striker Scott Vernon for Steven Gillespie.
Andy Holdsworth's excellent whipped cross was cleared for a corner in the 70th minute and from the flat Jim Goodwin delivery, Andy Butler headed wide at the far post.
Michael Flynn hit a volleyed effort straight from outside the box into the Town faithful after a good move three minutes later.
The Terriers created a couple of half-chances in the next ten minutes, both falling to Andy Booth; however, the legendary striker could only nod a couple of very difficult headers wide of goal.
SUB - Colchester made their second change in the 80th minute, replacing Wordsworth with Medy Elito.
Substitute Vernon headed a decent chance wide with seven minutes left after the home side took a quick corner and fellow sub Elito whipped a good cross into the back post.
Fellow winger Yeates then headed wide in the 87th minute under good pressure from Andy Holdsworth.
Town created a great chance on the break with only minutes remaining; Cadamarteri once again did the leg work, running half the length of the pitch before giving the ball to the right for Worthington and then Roberts. His low ball across the box fell to Andy Booth, but he badly scuffed his shot as he turned in the box and the ball rolled to a relieved Dean Gerken in goal.
Scott Vernon had a weak shot saved easily by Matt Glennon in the final seconds of the match, but the game ended as it started - goalless.
FULL TIME: COLCHESTER UNITED 0 HUDDERSFIELD TOWN 0
Huddersfield Town:
Matt Glennon, Andy Holdsworth, Jon Worthington, Danny Cadamarteri, Michael Flynn, Jim Goodwin, Robbie Williams, Gary Roberts, Andy Butler, Chris Lucketti (c), Andy Booth
Unused Substitutes: Alex Smithies, Michael Collins, Keigan Parker, Luke Beckett, David Unsworth
Town Bookings: Jim Goodwin (25), Robbie Williams (42), Danny Cadamarteri (57)
Colchester Booking: Matt Lockwood (35)
Attendance: 5,340
