Lincoln City 1 - 2 Huddersfield Town

Lincoln City 1-2 Huddersfield

Updated: May 15, 2004, 12:22 PM ET

Huddersfield are firm favourites to reach the Nationwide Division Three play-off final as David Mirfin's strike earned them a 2-1 victory over Lincoln in the first leg at Sincil Bank.

The Terriers right-back crowned an impressive display with the winning goal when the home side failed to clear their lines after Alan Marriott saved Andy Booth's towering header with 18 minutes remaining.

Iffy Onuora's deft header - his first goal since rejoining Town in March - put Huddersfield in the driving seat after just five minutes but this was cancelled out by Gary Fletcher's 19th goal of the season.

Fletcher's tap-in inspired the hosts who rallied gamely but Town refused to buckle under fierce pressure and Mirfin emerged the hero to give Huddersfield the edge going in to the second leg at the McAlpine Stadium next week.

Town squandered the opportunity of automatic promotion after losing at home to Mansfield and drawing at Cheltenham within the last fortnight, which allowed Torquay to squeeze past them into the second division.

However, captain Efe Sodje and playmaker Danny Schofield were suspended for the run-in and their return was a major boost for manager Peter Jackson.

Lincoln are no strangers to the lottery of the play-offs after reaching the Millennium Stadium last season before falling at the last against Bournemouth.

Simon Yeo helped the Imps to the final last year with three goals in the 6-3 aggregate win over Scunthorpe and manager Keith Alexander hoped for a repeat performance by promoting the striker from his customary position on the substitutes' bench to the starting XI.

However, Yeo was a virtual spectator in the opening exchanges as the visitors flew out the traps and were deservedly rewarded after just five minutes.

Rob Edwards' inswinging corner from the right-hand side lured goalkeeper Marriott into no-man's land to leave Onuora with the task of glancing the ball off the top of his head into an empty net from three yards.

Shell-shocked, Lincoln went about dragging themselves back into the contest but were far too reliant on the long ball, which was easily dealt with by Huddersfield's back-four.

Alexander had work to do at the break, and whatever he said had the desired effect as his side restored parity six minutes after the restart.

Kevin Ellison's huge throw caused havoc in the Town penalty area and out of the resultant melee, Yeo's volley forced goalkeeper Paul Rachubka into a stunning reflex save which rebounded into the path of Ben Futcher who teed up Fletcher six yards from goal. The former Leyton Orient striker kept his cool and side-footed the ball into the right-hand corner of the net.

Lincoln were now well on top and should have swept into a 74th-minute lead when Yeo zipped past two Huddersfield defenders before angling a delightful cut-back to Marcus Richardson who completely missed the ball with the goal at his mercy.

Just when it seemed Lincoln where poised to seize the initiative, Huddersfield scored what could prove the decisive goal.

Andy Holdsworth's corner was met with a thumping header by Booth which brought an equally emphatic stop from Marriott. Unfortunately for the Lincoln keeper his defence were caught on their heels and Mirfin was left unopposed to stab the ball into the net from a tight angle.

Lincoln huffed and puffed until the final whistle but lacked the nous and creativity to break down Huddersfield's well-drilled defence, who played out the remainder of the game with consummate ease.