30th Jan 2010 – Yeovil Town 0 – 1 Huddersfield Town (League One) – Nathan Eccleston scored the only goal of the game on his debut as the Terriers sealed their third away win of the season. It was a very impressive first display from the Liverpool youngster as he troubled Yeovil’s defence throughout the match. Eccleston’s first opportunity in the game came on 20 minutes when Antony Kay put Gary Roberts through on the left wing with a great volleyed pass, the Terriers’ player of the year then put in an early low cross which flashed across the face of goal but Eccleston could not get a good connection on the ball and his stretch only managed to get the ball out for a goal kick. It would only take another three minutes for the striker to get his goal though as he hammered the ball home with his left foot from a rebound after Jordan Rhodes’s volley was saved by Yeovil keeper McCarthy. The visitors then began to press for a second as Yeovil defender Stam had to clear under his own bar to prevent Eccleston scoring again after a good near post cross by fellow new signing Dean Heffernan. The 19 year old Liverpool loanee was again at the thick of the action on 33 minutes, involved in the build up play along with Peltier and Gary Roberts when Kay unleashed a long range effort which nearly fell into the path of Rhodes.
Eccleston was heavily involved in proceedings at the start of the second half as well, knocking down the ball for Roberts who attempted an audacious lob from 25 yards which went just over the bar. On 49 minutes, Eccleston showed his threat once again and he took on a good pass infield from Heffernan only to see his left footed strike hit tamely into the arms of the goalkeeper. As the hour mark approach, Yeovil and Huddersfield exchanged chances and Eccleston supplied the ball to Roberts in the left channel who put in a low cross which Rhodes just couldn’t get on the end of. The match however ended prematurely for Eccleston as he picked up a cut in a clash with a Yeovil defender and needed extensive treatment down the tunnel with the Terrier’s medical staff. He was replaced by Lee Novak but all in all it had been a tremendously successful debut for the Liverpool youngster.
