Town’s Development Squad opens with a victory
Huddersfield Town’s Danish midfielder Philip Billing netted a brace as the Development Squad saw off Bristol City 4-1 in the first match of the 2014/15 U21 Professional Development League 2 North season.
The tall midfielder scored twice with his head as Town opened up with a win at PPG Canalside. Fellow midfielders Ben Holmes and Ben Atkinson also scored for the Terriers.
Frankie Bunn’s men were in the ascendancy throughout and it was City’s ‘keeper Jo Jo Woolcott who was tested first, saving from Sondre Tronstad after the midfielder had turned neatly on the by-line.
Daniel Carr and Jacob Hanson both had efforts blocked before Town’s Lloyd Allinson was called into action when he saved smartly from Matthew Mattis.
Despite Town’s fast start, it took until the half hour mark before they opened the scoring. Left full-back Jake Carroll had time to take aim with his cross and he picked out the towering Billing who found the top corner with his head.
The Terriers’ celebrations were short lived though, with the visitors responding in equally classy style. A loose ball fell to City midfielder Tom Fry who curled an excellent shot over Allinson and into the far corner of his goal.
City ended the first and started the second half brightly, but it was Town who were next to net with Atkinson capitalising on a rebound from close range.
Town didn’t look overly convincing though, and had it not been for Allinson’s one-on-one save to deny James Difford in the 73rd minute, the final scoreline could have had a different look.
As it was, Allinson atoned for Billing’s mistake (the midfielder had played Difford through) and Town went on to score two more goals. Billing scored his second from Holmes’ free-kick before the supplier became the finisher, when he tapped home from Hanson’s cutback.
Town’s team (3-5-2):
Lloyd Allinson; William Boyle (c), Joe Wright, Joe Wilkinson; Jake Carroll, Sondre Tronstad (Flo Bojaj, 23) Philip Billing, Ben Atkinson; Ben Holmes, Daniel Carr (Ronan Coughlan, 82)
Unused substitutes:
Ed Wilczynski, Fraser Horsfall, Regan Booty
