Dom Tear nets hat-trick on return from loan spell
- Huddersfield Town Academy side plays at Leeds United
- Young Terriers impress to win 5-1 at Thorp Arch
- Dom Tear nets hat-trick; Micah Obiero & Kit Elliott score
Dom Tear netted a six-minute hat-trick upon his return from loan as a Town Academy side defeated Leeds United 5-1 at Thorp Arch on Friday afternoon.
The teenage winger has spent the second half of the season with Northern Irish side Larne FC and, on his first game back in Town colours, settled the West Yorkshire derby after earlier goals from fellow forwards Micah Obiero and Kit Elliott.
Dean Whitehead’s team - consisting of Under-19, Under-18 and Under-17 players as well as a handful of trialists - impressed on the day, but still had to come from behind.
Leeds took the lead inside 10 minutes after midfielder Isaac Marriott conceded a free kick, from which a home player netted a free header with Town’s defenders hoping for an offside flag that never came.
Obiero soon had a penalty claim turned away at the other end, but it was the hosts who went close again soon when a wide delivery hit the outside of the side netting.
Town started to take control at the 20-minute mark. Goalkeeper Jacob Chapman’s long goal-kick was held up by Elliott, who in turn found Tear to his right. Dom drew a great save from the home goalkeeper, who had a good game on the afternoon.
However, the Terriers were not to be denied and did equalise in the 27th minute. Skipper Scott High, ever influential in the engine room, deserved much of the credit, powering forward and finding Obiero with a smart pass. The forward finished with aplomb for his 14th goal of the season.
Elliott should have put Town ahead barely two minutes later after nicking the ball from a defender, but he hit his shot straight at the ‘keeper.
The striker hit the goalkeeper with another effort just after the half-hour after a good burst forward and pull-back from centre back Harry Spratt.
High shot inches wide of the left-hand post after another surging run soon after and there was still time for Tear to go close to putting his side ahead before the interval. Town’s high press caught Leeds out again and Tear emerged with the ball, shifting his weight expertly to create space for a shot – only to stumble at the vital moment!
Whitehead’s men maintained their momentum into the second half and finally went ahead after 10 minutes, with Elliott finally getting his goal. It was High who once again surged into the penalty area and picked out the striker, who played a smart one-two with Tear before firing home.
There was a momentary reprieve when Leeds hit the post with a free-kick, but Tear soon put the game beyond doubt. His first goal came in the 59th minute and owed much to High again, who sent the winger clear. The goalkeeper saved the first effort, but Tear was alive to the rebound to score his first.
Tear’s second followed in the 63rd minute; he collected a chip up the centre of the pitch from left back Ben Jackson before scoring to make it 4-1.
Barely a minute later, Dom completed an amazing hat-trick, sweeping home a ball from 17-year-old midfielder Josh Austerfield.
United missed a penalty as the substitutions were made with around 20 minutes to go, hitting the crossbar. Whitehead introduced several trialists, with Kai Herbert, Dan Hawkins and Jason Noslin all coming on.
17-year-old forward Herbert went close to a goal, with both him and Obiero forcing the impressive custodian into further late saves.
18-year-old Dutch right back Ilougna Pata played the full 90 minutes for the Young Terriers.
Town’s team (4-3-3)
Jacob Chapman; Ben Jackson, Harry Spratt, Oran Thompson (Jason Noslin, 75’), Ilounga Pata; Scott High (c) (Taylor Annakin, 71’), Isaac Marriott (Jaheim Headley, 71’), Josh Austerfield; Micah Obiero, Kit Elliott (Kai Herbert, 71’), Dom Tear (Dan Hawkins, 71’)
Unused substitute
Luke Mewitt
Goals
Dom Tear 3; Micah Obiero; Kit Elliott
