The Terriers were victorious in the final home game of the 2007/08 season, with the goals from Danny Schofield and Andy Booth - his 125th in the League for the Club - enough to see off visitors Walsall. It was a fitting tribute to Caretaker boss Gerry Murphy in his last game in charge at the Galpharm and a brilliant way for Schofield to cap his career as a Town player in front of the home fans.
Gerry Murphy lined his side up in the 3-5-2 formation that has served them so well recently, with goalkeeper Matt Glennon making his 100th appearance in the famous Blue and White stripes behind a back three of David Mirfin, Nathan Clarke and skipper Rob Page. Joe Skarz and Andy Holdsworth were deployed as left and right wing-backs respectively with James Berrett playing a holding midfield role behind the slightly more advanced Jonathan Worthington and Michael Collins, leaving Andy Booth to partner Danny Schofield in attack.
Both sides were trying to get the ball down in the early stages but were misplacing the odd pass. Town were playing against a deceptively strong wind and it caught a few of the players out.
Page's back-post header from a deep left-wing corner delivered by Skarz in the 11th minute was the first real effort on goal of the game, but the big defender's effort hit the back of a defender en route to goal before being eventually cleared.
Walsall hit back seven minutes later through their own corner and in truth midfielder Mark Bradley should have done better when free at the back post, but he tapped the ball well wide.
James Berrett then showed everyone why he has made such an impact at Town this season. He picked up the ball in the 20th minute before skipping past Bradley and spraying the ball out to Andy Holdsworth. His deflected cross fell to the teenage midfielder on the edge of the box, but he volleyed wide of goal when under heavy pressure.
Danny Schofield then almost capped his last Galpharm appearance in Town colours with a goal two minutes later. Jon Worthington's low cross from the right was picked up by Booth at the near post and the legendary forward tried to square it to his strike partner, but Joe Skarz touched the ball en route meaning Schofield could only scuff a left foot shot straight at goalkeeper Clayton Ince.
Boothy then did well to climb above tall centre-back Anthony Gerrard to nod a Skarz cross towards goal in the 31st minute, but he could not generate the necessary power to seriously trouble the Walsall goalkeeper.
Captain Page surprised everyone a minute later by trying a long-range shot after a short corner and his effort forced Ince into a routine save above his own head.
Town then produced the best move of the game after 35 minutes. Schofield dropped deep to pick up a pass and waited for Holdsworth to advance before sliding a pass inside full-back Taundry perfectly. Holdsworth was through on goal and tried to place a left-footed effort around Ince as he entered the area, but the big Trinidadian shot-stopper did well to tip the ball over the bar.
GOAL - Those two players combined again in the 41st minute to give the Terriers a deserved lead. Holdsworth picked up the ball midway inside the Walsall half before releasing a great through-ball to set Danny Schofield away. The striker steadied himself as he broke into the penalty area and calmly placed the ball into the far corner of the goal - much to the delight of the Town faithful.
Walsall did muster another shot before the interval, but Alex Nicholls half-volley from an acute angle outside the area went well wide of Matt Glennon's near post. Kevin Betsy produced a carbon copy of that effort as the fourth official signalled there would be one minute of added time.
The first-half had lacked a bit of impetuous, but Gerry Murphy's side had been well on top and thoroughly deserved their lead. Rob Page had commanded the back line brilliantly whereas Holdsworth, Schofield, Collins and Berrett had all caught the eye going forward.
Half-Time: Huddersfield Town 1 Walsall 0
Town had the first shot of the second-half after just 18 seconds; Collins found Worthington with a good infield pass before the midfielder hit a drive over the bar from around 25 yards out.
Rob Page then headed another Skarz corner from the left over the bar in the 49th minute.
GOAL - Andy Booth then scored his 125th League goal for Town in the 56th minute in typical fashion. The move came about after Booth had badly scuffed an attempted left-foot volley on the edge of the box; instead of arrowing towards goal, the ball screwed off his foot and out to Skarz on the left flank. He passed the ball back to Jon Worthington, who put in an inch-perfect cross for Boothy to powerfully head home past Clayton Ince's outstretched right hand.
SUB - Walsall tried to get back into the game by making their first substitution in the 61st minute; Ishmel Demontagnac replacing right-back Rhys Weston. This change saw Darren Wrack move to right-back, with the substitute playing in his preferred left wing position.
The Saddlers started to throw more men forward in search of a goal and started to look useful on the break. However, the Terriers were firm in the challenge and one challenge from Jon Worthington on the edge of the Town box after 66 minutes almost rocked the foundations of the Galpharm itself!
Andy Booth should have done better with a good chance on the stroke of 67 minutes; James Berrett got between centre-back Smith and 'keeper Ince to rob the ball in the Walsall area before passing back to Booth, but his attempt at curling the ball around the big goalkeeper from fifteen yards out only sent the ball wide of the post.
Matt Glennon came to Town's rescue a minute later when the athletic Betsy turned past Page and sent a firm left-foot shot towards goal, pushing the ball wide of his right-hand post.
A left foot volley from a low Skarz left-wing corner from Andy Booth saw the ball fly over the crossbar in the 71st minute.
Veteran Walsall striker Tommy Mooney provided Betsy with another shooting opportunity in the 75th minute, but the athletic striker snatched at his effort and sent the ball well wide of goal from the edge of the area.
Page was winning every header from Joe Skarz's left wing corners and his header back across goal from one such delivery a minute later led to Dave Mirfin hammering an overhead kick well over the crossbar from close range.
SUB - Daniel Broadbent was introduced by Gerry Murphy in the 79th minute, replacing Danny Schofield. It was a fitting reception for the outgoing player - the fans standing and chanting his name as he left the field.
SUB - Tom Clarke entered the fray in the 81st minute, replacing Jon Worthington.
Broadbent mishit an attempted 25-yard left-foot volley well wide of goal with three minutes remaining before being put through by the superb James Berrett and forcing another good save from 'keeper Ince, who was Walsall's best player in the day.
Michael Collins almost scored the goal of the season in added time, but his brilliant 30-yard volley went just wide of goal.
All in all, the Terriers fully deserved their win and the 2-0 win was a good way in which to end Gerry Murphy's spell in charge of the team.
Full-Time: Huddersfield Town 2 Walsall 0
Huddersfield Town:
Matt Glennon, Andy Holdsworth, Joe Skarz, Michael Collins, David Mirfin, Nathan Clarke, Jonathan Worthington (Tom Clarke 81), Danny Schofield (Daniel Broadbent 79), James Berrett, Andy Booth, Robert Page (c)
Unused Subs: Alex Smithies, Robbie Williams, Luke Beckett
Attendance: 9,969
Visitors: 366
