Huddersfield Town

The Terriers, who featured only Tom Clarke and Anton Robinson as overage players, were up against a strong Derby outfit featuring the likes of Jacobs and Doyle who both featured when the first teams met last Saturday in the Championship.

Derby dominated territorially for large parts of the game with Town’s one and only chance falling to new signing Godwin Adadaki, who slipped at the vital stage.

Town kicked off proceedings shooting up the slight slope at Moor Farm and looked neat and tidy during the opening exchanges with Anton Robinson and Scott Kay showing some neat touches. It was interplay between Robinson and Dale Hopson which created the first shooting opportunity of the match, which Matt Crooks fired wide.

The home side were using the slick passing surface to good effect and began dominating the game after the ten minute mark with Mason Bennett, Ben Davies and Michael Jacobs all going close; the latter striking the post with a superb strike from 20 yards.

As the half wore on Derby continued to dominate with defender Thomas Naylor heading wide at the back stick and then James Bailey hit wide after a poor pass from Clarke. As the rain began to poor down at Moor Farm Town created a couple of chances of their own with new boy Godwin Abadaki feeding Robinson who shot wide before Matt Crooks scuffed a left-footed shot straight at the Derby stopper.

Derby looked dangerous down Town’s left through Ben Davies and Clarke had to show great athleticism to clear his cross before Allinson got down well to deny the Rams at the back post as the half neared its conclusion.

The Terriers enjoyed more of the possession playing down wind in the second 45 but were unable to quell the Derby danger with Jacobs going close on 53 minutes.

Town’s best chance of the game came after superb work from captain Jordan Sinnott in the 58th minute, who turned his man in the centre of the park before releasing Abadaki clear. The on loan Rochdale man had time to take a touch but decided to shoot first time and at the vital moment slipped, skewing his shot well wide. 

The breakthrough in the game came when a clumsy challenge from 18 year-old Joe Wright in the box gifted Jacobs the chance to score from 18 yards – and he finished with aplomb firing past Allinson with 20 minutes to go. The home side put the game to bed in the 80th minute when American Conor Doyle netted a rebounded following a superb save from Allinson.

Lloyd Allinson; Robbie McIntrye, Tom Clarke, Joe Wright, James Burke (Duane Holmes 72); Dale Hopson (Max Leonard 72), Scott Kay, Jordan Sinnott (c), Anton Robinson; Matt Crooks, Godwin Abadaki (Connor Loftus 81)

Ed Wilczynski