Crooks and Loftus score in great win
Goals from Matt Crooks and Connor Loftus helped Town return to winning ways in the U21 Professional Development League 2 at Barnsley on Monday afternoon.
Town’s tall midfielder gave Steve Eyre’s men the perfect start with a flick header in the first minute before Loftus doubled the lead mid-way through the half with a poacher’s effort.
Barnsley replied in the second-half when Mido slotted home from the spot, but Town held firm to record the three points.
Town, who featured Joel Lynch in defence as he stepped up his recovery from a knee injury, started brightly and deservedly went ahead when Crooks rose highest to glance home Jordan Sinnott’s left footed cross.
Barnsley should have been level two minutes later when left-back Matty Steade raced clear, but the defender placed his low shot wide of Lloyd Allinson’s goal.
The Terriers regained control of the game after Barnsley’s brief foray on goal and should have doubled the lead in the 13th minute when Godwin Abadaki pounced on a defensive lapse, but the striker curled his effort wide of the Barnsley goal.
Connor Loftus was enjoying his first start for Steve Eyre’s under-21 team, but that enthusiasm spilled over in the 15th minute when he was lucky to escape with just a yellow after a two footed lunge on a Barnsley defender.
Loftus only had to wait two minutes to redeem himself, however, when he reacted first to a loose ball in the box to prod Town into a two goal lead.
Godwin Abadaki should have made it three for Town shortly afterwards, before Rhys Oates rounded Allinson on the half mark, but couldn’t find the back of the net from a narrow angle.
Barnsley’s Egyptian forward Mido had been quiet for the majority of the half, but showed good reactions in the 40th minute when he shot low following a good cross from the left, which Allinson diverted away with his feet.
The hosts looked far more positive at the start of the second half and earned a lifeline on the hour mark when Mido was felled by Tom Clarke at the back post. The former Tottenham striker dusted himself down before powerfully slamming the ball past Allinson.
Substitute Max Leonard went close for the Terriers not long after when he curled an effort onto the post off the finger tips of Lukas Lidakevicius.
The Tykes continued to dominate proceedings, though, and forced Allinson into another fine save with his legs after Oates had knocked James Burke off the ball. Town continued to hold firm up until the final whistle with Barnsley’s only over efforts coming from the boot of Huddersfield-born Reuben Noble-Lazarus, who flashed two efforts wide.
Town’s team (4-5-1):
Lloyd Allinson; Robbie McIntrye, Joel Lynch (James Burke, 46), Tom Clarke, Tom Smith; Dale Hopson (George Conway, 90), Matt Crooks, Scott Kay, Jordan Sinnott (C), Connor Loftus (Max Leonard, 33); Godwin Abadaki
Unused substitutes:
Nick Colgan
