Simon Baldry set the seal on Huddersfield's escape from relegation with his
first goal of the season.
The 22-year-old winger, making his first start since October, secured
Huddersfield's Nationwide League First Division future.
Baldry produced an inspired display but in the second half Huddersfield had to
hang onto their lead grimly to take maximum points.
Baldry scored the only goal in the 12th minute from a Rob Edwards corner.
Marcus Stewart flicked the ball on to Baldry unmarked at the far post. His first
touch was not ideal but he pulled the ball down and forced it home.
Baldry could have had a hat-trick in the first half but for fine saves from
West Brom goalkeeper Chris Adamson.
In the 29th minute, Grant Johnson fed Baldry, who cut in from the left and
fired in a shot which forced a great save from Adamson.
Then a minute later, Baldry headed Edwards' centre across goal and Adamson
again made a brilliant one-handed save at full stretch.
Huddersfield were on top in the first half but West Brom, displaying some of
the form that had put them among the First Division leaders earlier in the
season, got back into the match.
West Brom were unlucky on several occasions not to grab an equaliser as they
created a host of chances.
In the 54th minute, James Quinn beat Johnson and it needed a desperate
clearance by Sam Collins to keep out the Northern Ireland striker.
A minute later, Kevin Kilbane found himself in the clear but could only hit
the ball wide.
In the 62nd minute, Sean Flynn fired in a stunning snap-shot which again flew
just wide and five minutes later, Lee Hughes twisted and turned in the Town box
and his drive was held by Harper.
Two minutes later, Kilbane could have equalised for West Brom and although his
cool lob beat Huddersfield goalkeeper Steve Harper, it dropped just over the
crossbar.
In the 73rd minute, West Brom had another great chance when Andy Hunt's cross
beat Collins in the centre but Hughes, sliding in at the far post, was just
inches away.
As tackles started to fly late on with West Brom battling for an equaliser,
there were ugly scenes which resulted in Barry Horne being booked in the last
minute.
Teams:
Huddersfield: Harper, Phillips, Edwards, Richardson, Collins,
Gray, Baldry (Dyson 86), Horne, Stewart, Allison, Johnson.
Subs Not Used: Nielsen, Lawson.
Booked: Gray, Horne, Johnson.
Goals: Baldry 12.
West Brom: Adamson, McDermott, Van Blerk, Flynn, Beesley,
Carbon (Murphy 38), Quinn, Nicol (Sneekes 78), Hunt, Hughes,
Kilbane.
Subs Not Used: Coldicott.
Booked: Beesley, Murphy.
Att: 11,704
Ref: A P D'Urso (Billericay).
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