Saturday 9 March 2013

There's only one Callum Harriot

The 19-year old put Charlton ahead in the fourth minute to give them a 1-0 victory over Huddersfield Town, delighting the 470 Addicks who had made the journey north. With a rare clean sheet secured, their first in 19 games, the Addicks went 12th in the Championship. Even the most hardened pessimists cannot portray this as a relegation position.

Harriott smashed home after being set up by Chris Solly who squared a free kick. (Incidentally, could someone tell the BBC he's not called Harriots). On the quarter hour mark Gobern headed Norwood's corner wide. David Button then made a good relex save from point-blank range to keep out Theo Robinson's header on 27 minutes. Rhoys Wiggins diverted Novak's effort from close range over the bar. Alex Smithies was alert at the other end eight minutes the break to stop Danny Haynes from doubling the Charlton lead after he had raced on to an excellent through ball from Harriot. Clarke denied Bradley Pritchard with a goal line block from a close range shot two minutes before the break.

Button had to save a curling free kick from Norwood four minutes after the break. Novak's glancing header forced Button to tip the ball over. Huddersfield switched to 4-4-2 after 54 minutes when they made a double substitution, but Charlton responded on 66 minutes by bringing on Dervitte to give the defence extra protection in place of Fuller. Clarke rescued the home side with an acrobatic clearance off the line after Lawrie Wilson flicked on to the far post from a Johnnie Jackson free kick.

Harriot, who had picked up a yellow card, was replaced by Evina on 79 minutes and Obika had a brief cameo in place of Haynes.

Oscar Gobern forced another save from Button as the hosts came on strong on the second period. Button saved a cross from Ward twelve minutes from time. Alan Lee nearly rescued a point at the death, but Chris Powell once again had his keeper to thank for repelling a long-range strike from Norwood deep in time added on.

It was a great performance over the 96 minutes. Callum Harriott gets a score of 8 from The Football League Paper this morning for his 'deadly passes' and Button, Haynes and Jackson all got 7. The worst score goes to Wiggins who, it is claimed, 'had a fairly quiet game, failed to impress himself on the Town back four.

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