Town come from behind to earn victory
Town made it two wins in a week against Sheffield Wednesday after its under-21 team came from behind to earn three points at Canalside.
Two goals in the space of two minutes from Jordan Sinnott and Godwin Abadaki earned Town a deserved three points against their county rivals.
With the likes of Scott Arfield, Calum Woods and Jimmy Spencer all starting for Steve Eyre’s team they rightfully dominated possession for large parts of the game. Despite all their territorially pressure though they failed to break down a resolute Wednesday defence and it was the visitors that opened the scoring on 76 minutes through Harry Grant.
Thankfully for Town, after Connor Loftus had been tripped in the box, captain Sinnott slotted home and then on Town's next attack Abadaki headed home from Hopson’s cross.
Playing in front of First Team Manager Simon Grayson and Chairman Dean Hoyle, Town dominated possession during the opening exchanges and worked a good opening in the 12th minute, but Jimmy Spencer’s cross was well defended by the Wednesday defence.
Wednesday also looked sharp early on and tested Lloyd Allinson with 13 minutes gone when Harry Grant shot low and then Hayden White couldn’t convert Caolan White’s cross three minutes later.
Town wasted a good opportunity when Woods got to the by-line in the 24th minute and then Abadaki’s shot was deflected over as the home side continued to press for an opener.
Right-back Woods was in the action again with ten minutes to go of the half when he was on the end of a superb Town counter, but shot straight at Wednesday ‘keeper Adam Davies when well placed. The former Dunfermline man then showed great anticipation in his own box to deny Nick Hague a certain goal with a superb block.
Wednesday started the second 45 well and caused chaos in Allinson’s box with a corner before the referee blew for an infringement.
Town continued to pepper the Wednesday stopper with shots as the game ticked towards the hour mark with Sean Scannell, Abadaki and Spencer all trying their luck from outside the box. Scannell, who was returning from a hamstring injury, was beginning to give the Wednesday defence a torrid time and was brought down in the box after skipping past two players, but the referee dismissed his, and Town’s bench’s, claim for a penalty.
Spencer went close for Town with an overhead kick and was then inches away from converting Abadaki’s cross before the Owls broke the deadlock on the break through Harry Grant after good play from Caolan Lavery.
Wednesday’s goal, 14 minutes from time, didn’t deter Town and they continued to pressurise the visitors defence and got their reward in the 83rd minute when Davies brought down Loftus in the box – after good play from Spencer – and Sinnott slotted home from 12 yards.
The comeback was complete when in the Terriers’ very next attack Abadaki headed home powerfully from Dale Hopson’s pin-point cross.
Town’s team (4-4-2):
Lloyd Allinson; Robbie McIntyre, Murray Wallace, James Burke, Calum Woods (Dale Hopson 60); Sean Scannell (Connor Loftus 74), Scott Arfield, Jordan Sinnott (c), Matt Crooks; Jimmy Spencer, Godwin Abadaki
Unused substitutes:
Jordan Porter, Max Leonard
