Carlisle United 1 Huddersfield Town 2: Fine start helps Town secure win

Manager Lee Clark's pre-match confidence was borne out by his players who made a tremendous start, pushing the Cumbrians on the back foot from the off.

Only six minutes had gone when Lee Novak sent Town ahead, seizing on Lee Peltier's through ball before rounding goalkeeper Adam Collin for his ninth of the season.

Town dominated the proceedings, forcing seven corners before the break and threatening to extend their lead more than once through a worried Carlisle defence with neat passing.

Carlisle, not unexpectedly, came on stronger and Alex Smithies had to race out the block Scott Dobie.

Town added a vital second goal 10 minutes after the break, Rhodes having a shot pushed over the bar then guiding home a neat header from the corner – his 18th strike of the campaign.

Smithies, however, denied Darryl Duffy when the striker looked certain to score before Carlisle substitute Joe Anyinsah hit the target only to see his effort disallowed. In added time, Anyinsah pulled a goal back but it was too little too late.

Carlisle United: Collin; Keogh, Livesey, Harte, Murphy; Hurst (Marshall 62), Thirwell (Taiwo 62), Robson; Duffy, Dobie (Anyinsah 57). Unused Substitutes: Pidgeley, Horwood, Bridge-Wilkinson, Kane.

Huddersfield Town: Smithies; Peltier, P Clarke, Trotman, Heffernan; Pilkington, Kay, Drinkwater, Roberts (Eccleston 87). Unused Substitutes: Eastwood, Collins, N Clarke, Robinson, T Clarke, Pearce.

Referee: K Evans (Manchester).