Scunthorpe's star man was young Irishman Andy Keogh whose sparkling runs caused havoc in the defence and he found an excellent ally in the veteran Peter Beagrie.
Beagrie displayed his skills early when he collected a ball on the left to fire in a brilliant shot which cannoned off the far post and was cleared.
Huddersfield's Pawel Abbott then created space to fire over, but it was the evergreen Beagrie who opened the scoring in the 17th minute, cutting in from the left to drive home a superb 20-yard shot.
Abbott and Holdsworth were just off target for the Terriers before Beagrie hit another screamer over the top.
Scunthorpe's Billy Sharp had a goalbound effort blocked on the line and Ian Baraclough lifted a shot over.
Huddersfield then had a fine chance to level when Danny Schofield set up Abbott who, with the goal at his mercy, crashed the ball inches over.
In a flowing and fluent game, Huddersfield equalised in the 44th minute. Schofield hit a rasping shot beyond Tom Evans after being given too much space.
Further chances fell at either end to Baraclough and Abbott before the break.
Chris Brandon forced a good save from Evans at the start of the second half, but Scunthorpe began to take control again with Baraclough hitting a post and keeper Paul Rachubka made lucky stops from Keogh and Sharp.
There was little the keeper could do to stop a brilliant Keogh strike in the 70th minute to put the Iron ahead again and at that stage they looked home and dry.
However, Huddersfield's late surge saw them level through McIntosh and return home satisfied.