The Mighty Terriers moved to the top of the League One table after deservedly taking all three points at the Galpharm this afternoon. A brace from the fit-again Abbott and Andy Booth's century of League goals for his home town Club sealed the victory in another impressive performance.
Town made a blistering start to the game and within the first minute they strung together a flowing move involving over fourteen passes which resulted in a last ditch challenge from Westwood preventing Tony Carss from pulling the trigger inside the area. The ball was only half-cleared and broke to skipper Worthington who rifled in a shot from the edge of the area which crashed against keeper Ruddy's right hand post.
Referee Kettle produced the first yellow card of the game on six minutes when he booked Clarke for a challenge on Fryatt much to the annoyance of the Galpharm faithful who could see no difference between Clarke's and Demontagnac's challenge seconds earlier on Holdsworth's which went unpunished.
Town forced their first corner of the game on ten minutes after good feet on the left by Carss saw the Town man's cross deflected behind by Pead. As the ball was cleared to the edge of the area, skipper Worthington controlled and fired in a shot which was inches over the bar.
The Terriers did not have long to wait before they took a deserved lead when Andy Booth registered his 100th League goal for the Club on fifteen minutes. The goal came after a long ball from Mirfin was neatly collected by Pav who out-muscled Westwood before laying the ball into the path of Town's favourite son. Boothy chested the ball down before confidently slotting the ball underneath Ruddy.
The visitors' first foray into the Town area came midway through the first half when they benefited from two fortunate ricochets as Clarke tried to clear. Leitao gained possession and tried to feed Fryatt but fortunately for the Terriers Rabs was quickly off his line to smother the danger.
Town broke immediately and had an appeal for a penalty turned down after it appeared that, as Booth advanced into the Walsall area he was pushed by Bennett.
A quick break by Walsall saw Leitao involved again and this time the Saddler's striker was ushered wide by Adams and could not find the target
The visitors equalised from a set-piece on the half hour mark after referee Kettle awarded a harsh free-kick against Clarke. The Kinsella set-piece found the head of Paul Smith who beat the dive of Rachubka from ten yards out.
The parity was not long-lived as the Terriers retook the lead three minutes later when typically superb footwork from Schofield saw him skin full-back Fox before delivering an inviting cross which Abbott easily directed home from three yards.
The visitors were forced into the first change of the afternoon on 41 minutes when top-scorer Matty Fryatt was replaced by Dario Larossa.
Town won their third corner of the afternoon on 42 minutes when Schofield again showed good feet and forced keeper Ruddy into a near post save.
Half Time: HuddersfieldTown 2 Walsall FC 1
Town were immediately on the offensive after the restart and Abbott was unlucky not to control Clarke's shot from outside the area which found the Pole unmarked six yards out. As the ball bounced loose it fell to Schofield on the edge of the area whose volley flew inches wide of Ruddy's right-hand post.
Abbott became the second man in referee Kettle's book when he fouled Joe Broad on 53 minutes.
The visitors were forced into their second change of the afternoon minutes later when Broad appeared to pull up with a muscle injury and was replaced by Taylor. The substitution took place after Demontagnac was cautioned for an accumulation of offences.
Town were awarded a free kick on the edge of the visitors' penalty area after Kinsella crudely upended Abbott with the former Premiership player being cautioned for dissent rather than the challenge.
The Terriers had another penalty appeal turned down 68 minutes when it appeared that visiting skipper Westwood's clearance struck the hand of Bennett.
Schofield picked up the loose ball and his run resulted in another Town corner which was met by the head of Booth who could only watch as his effort rebounded off the inside of the post and was cleared off the line.
The visitors made their final change of the afternoon replacing Kinsella with McDermott.
With just less than 20 minutes to go Jacko was forced into his first change with Hudson being replaced by Michael Collins.
Town were almost caught cold by sub McDermott when Mirfin appeared to be unaware of the player's presence and allowed the striker to steal in behind him. Fortunately the diminutive frontman's header fell into the grateful arms of Rachubka.
The Terriers increased their lead on 78 minutes when a Clarke long-throw was flicked on by Booth which was met on the half-volley by goal machine Abbott who grabbed his second of the game.
Jacko made his second change with ten minutes remaining replacing century-striker Booth, who left the pitch to a standing ovation, with Gary Taylor-Fletcher.
As the game went into the final five minutes Holdsworth was cautioned for a pull-back on Demontagnac. The set-piece was well cleared by Town and, as Worthington threatened to break clear, he was abruptly halted by McDermott who also received a caution.
Rachubka was forced into his first real save of the game when Demontagnac fired in an acute angled shot which Rabs did well parry wide.
As the fourth official signalled three minutes of added time, Jacko handed Matty Young his senior debut and replaced Danny Schofield.
The busy referee insisted in pulling play back when Worthington was in the clear to caution Leitao.
Full Time: HuddersfieldTown 3 Walsall 1
Attendance: 11,642
Travelling: 420
