- Huddersfield Town B defeat Preston North End U19s
- Young Terriers put five past their opponents
- First Central League win of the season for Town
Huddersfield Town’s B Team continued their rich vein of goal-scoring form as the Young Terriers beat Preston North End Under-19s 5-0 in the Central League.
After a slow start to the game, the Young Terriers went into half-time ahead, with strikes coming from Ben Jackson, Donay O’Brien-Brady, and Ben Midgley.
Second-half goals from Rolando Aarons and Kian Harratt confirmed the victory, as the B Team made it 11 goals scored in two games!
The game started with a slow tempo, as both sides enjoyed long spells of possession without creating many clear-cut chances.
First Teamers Rolando Aarons and Josh Ruffels were in the line-up alongside some of the younger B Team players, with several of the B Team’s regulars among the substitutes having trained with the senior squad in the morning.
On five minutes, Josh Austerfield played a sublime cross-field ball into the path of the onrushing Ruffels, but his ball into the centre was cleared by Joe Blanchard.
The first major chance of the game fell to Myles Bright who, from the edge of the area, forced Olly Lombard into a smart save down to his left.
The Lilywhites had the chance to gain the advantage on 25 minutes, as they were awarded a penalty when Loick Ayina tripped Jacob Holland-Wilkinson just inside the area.
Joe Rodwell-Grant stepped up, but his spot-kick was parried by Giosue Bellagambi before the ‘keeper jumped on the loose ball!
That scare seemed to wake up the Young Terriers, who took the lead just three minutes later.
Midgley drew a foul and won a free-kick around 20 yards from goal. Captain Ben Jackson stepped up and fired a low strike underneath the wall, which nestled into the bottom left-hand corner.
Donay O’Brien-Brady then doubled Town’s lead on 34 minutes, as the winger volleyed home from Midgley’s floated cross after a superb, flowing move that started with Bright and Bellagambi inside the Town penalty area.
The away side almost pulled a goal back from kick-off; however, after sidestepping Shane Maroodza, Holland-Wilkinson rifled wide of the far upright.
On 43 minutes, Town made it three as Midgley (pictured above) tapped home at the back post from Elliott’s glancing header after an Aarons cross to give the Young Terriers a commanding lead at the break.
North End should have pulled a goal back just after the interval.
A rare misjudgement from Austerfield allowed Mikey O’Neill a chance to get onto a high ball into the area. The forward lobbed the outrushing Bellagambi, but the ball struck the post before Ayina cleared the danger.
On the hour, O’Neill then went close again for Preston, but his drilled effort from range was saved by Bellagambi.
Aarons then won a penalty as his quick feet forced defender Teddy Mfuni to bring down the winger.
Aarons stepped up and confidently tucked his penalty into the bottom right to make it four for Town.
O’Neill proved to be a threat once again with a quarter to go, as he latched onto a through-ball from Lewis Leigh, but the forward’s effort was smothered by Bellagambi, who raced off his line.
Town continued to stride forward in search of goals. The ball soon fell to Austerfield on the edge, but his drilled attempt went agonisingly wide of the far post.
The Young Terriers finished the fixture in style as they added a fifth with five minutes remaining.
Austerfield won possession back from a Preston throw and gave the ball to substitute Harratt, who took the shot early and beat the ‘keeper from 25 yards to get his eighth goal of the season.
Town’s B Team Line-up (3-4-3)
Giosue Bellagambi; Shane Maroodza (Reece Brown, 46’), Loick Ayina (Nassim Kherbouche, 67’), Ben Jackson; Josh Ruffels (David Adewoju, 67’), Ben Midgley, Josh Austerfield, Rolando Aarons; Myles Bright, Kit Elliott (Kian Harratt, 60’), Donay O’Brien-Brady
Unused Sub
Nicholas Bilokapic
Scorers
Ben Jackson (28’), Donay O’Brien-Brady (34’), Ben Midgley (43’), Rolando Aarons (70’ pen), Kian Harratt (85’)
Final Score
Huddersfield Town B Team 5-0 Preston North End
