This meeting between two forward-thinking, fluent footballing teams had the potential to be a cracker, and their attacking instincts left spaces which made one another particularly threatening in transition.
The opening goal was a case in point, Cardiff breaking at pace with Omari Kellyman, Chris Willock and overlapping left-back Bagan, whose cross was headed in by Salech.
As freely as the first half flowed at times, Huddersfield’s best chance came from a corner as Bojan Radulovic volleyed narrowly wide.
Ashford and Salech missed opportunities to extend Cardiff’s lead and, a little more than five minutes into the second half, another Terriers set-piece yielded an equaliser.
Marcus Harness’ corner from the right was played across the ground to the edge of the penalty area, where Castledine crashed in a first-time strike with the help of a deflection.
Not only did Huddersfield’s equaliser puncture the mood at Cardiff City Stadium but, moments later, Bradford took the lead at Plymouth.
Having been three points clear at the top of League One a few minutes earlier, Cardiff were now second in the table.
That added urgency to their search for a second goal, which they got when the industrious Ashford burst into the box and lofted a cross to the back post, where Salech nodded in from close range to score his ninth league goal of the season – taking him to the top of the League One scoring charts.
Davies’ excellent third goal looked to have wrapped up the three points, though Taylor’s late second for Huddersfield prompted a few late nerves.
Cardiff defended solidly enough, however, to keep hold of top spot in their quest for an instant return to the Championship.