Young Terriers win comfortably at Canalside
- Town B were victorious against Bradford City
- More minutes for First Team’s Tommy Elphick
- Goals from Tommy Elphick and Matty Daly
Tommy Elphick got on the scoresheet as Huddersfield Town’s B Team produced a dominant performance to beat Bradford City 3-0 at Canalside on Wednesday afternoon.
Elphick started his second game for the B Team since returning from a long-term knee injury, having featured in Town’s 3-1 win against Halifax Town last Friday.
Elphick headed in Sorba Thomas’ corner in the first half to open the scoring. Thomas was again the provider, setting up Matty Daly to double Town’s advantage, before an own goal in the second half consolidated Town’s lead.
Chances were few and far between inside the opening exchanges as both sides enjoyed spells of possession. Town’s first real opening of the match came through Thomas - a late change coming into the starting XI for winger Pat Jones prior to kick-off. Thomas drove at the Bradford defence, beating his man, and releasing low shot towards the bottom left corner, but his effort was saved comfortably by the goalkeeper.
The visitors responded with a chance of their own when a turnover in possession left them through on goal, but the resulting shot was wide of the mark.
Town began to dominate proceedings midway through the first half and some neat interplay between Brahima Diarra, deployed at right-back, and Sam Peplow on the right-wing saw the former slip in Micah Obiero. The through ball alluded him, however, and the chance was lost.
Town made two planned changes half an hour into the match; with Romoney Crichlow (another late change prior to kick-off) and Jaden Brown getting some minutes in the tank before being substituted for Ben Jackson and Jaheim Headley.
Town were rewarded for their persistence ten minutes before the interval when Elphick rose highest to convert Thomas’ in-swinging corner; heading back across goal to give Town a deserved lead.
Thomas was heavily involved again as the hosts doubled their advantage five minutes later. Peplow fed Thomas in the left channel who advanced into the box and cut the ball back to the arriving Daly who finished instinctively into the bottom right corner of the net.
Moments later, Peplow, who was a constant threat from the right-hand-side throughout the first half, cut inside onto his left foot and curled across goal towards the bottom corner, but his effort was saved well by the goalkeeper and beaten away to safety.
Worthington made a further four changes to his side at half-time; with Jayson Leutwiler replacing Joel Pereira in goal and Daly, Thomas and Josh Austerfield making way for Ilounga Pata, Kit Elliott and Pat Jones.
Town cemented their authority on the scoreline shortly after the restart adding their third of the afternoon. Second-half substitute Jones released Headley down the left who crossed early towards the awaiting Elliott in the centre of the box, but the cross was diverted in at the near post by a sliding Bradford defender.
Huddersfield Town B Team (4-3-3)
Joel Pereira (Jayson Leutwiler, 46’); Brahima Diarra (Will McCamley, 77’),Tommy Elphick (Luke Daley, 61’), Romoney Crichlow (Ben Jackson, 32’), Jaden Brown (Jaheim Headley, 32’), Josh Austerfield (Kit Elliott, 46’), Etienne Camara (Loick Ayina, 61’), Matty Daly (Ilounga Pata, 46’); Sam Peplow, Micah Obiero, Sorba Thomas (Pat Jones, 46’)
Unused Sub
Nassim Kherbouce
Scorers
Tommy Elphick (34’), Matty Daly (39’), OG (54’)
Town Bookings
Josh Austerfield (22’), Joel Pereira (24’)
Final Score
Town B 3-0 Bradford City
