Cristian and Scannell net in another win
Goals from Cristian Lopez and Sean Scannell gave Town’s Under-21 side a 2-0 win at Leeds United’s Thorp Arch in the Professional Development League 2 North this afternoon.
This win now extends Town’s remarkable unbeaten League run at this level, with Steve Eyre’s side having recorded 11 wins and 1 draw in 12 games.
In a game where Town had the majority of the chances, it took until the 74th minute for the Terriers to open the scoring through Spanish striker Cristian before winger Scannell netted a second in the final moments of the Yorkshire derby.
The first chance of the game fell to Town and Duane Holmes, but the diminutive midfielder fired wide of the target after going through on goal on the quarter hour mark.
Norwegian midfielder Sondre Tronstad, in his first outing for the Club after joining during January, started the move for Town’s next chance in the 31st minute. He played striker Harry Bunn into a decent position, but his shot flew wide of the far post with Cristian inches away from turning the ball home.
Bunn fired just wide again moments later before Leeds had their first chance of note, with midfielder Chris Dawson forcing Town custodian Lloyd Allinson into a full-length diving save.
Tronstad launched another attack with seven minutes of the half remaining, sending winger Joe Lolley into the channel. When he delivered the cross, Cristian went to ground in the box – but the referee signalled no penalty.
Allinson was back in the action upon the start of the second-half, producing a big one on one save to deny Gboly Ariyibi the first goal.
Town fought back, with Holmes unlucky to see his dipping effort from the edge of the box go a coat of paint wide of the post.
Harry Bunn was back in the action a few minutes later, but Leeds ‘keeper Alex Cairns did well to push away his header from Scannell’s corner.
Town were starting to turn the screw at this point and January signing Lolley soon fired over after creating space with quick feet, but the Terriers finally made the pressure count in the 74th minute. Matt Crooks – playing at centre half once again – broke up a Leeds attack and passed to Lolley, who in turn found Jordan Sinnott. The Academy graduate’s shot was spilled by Cairns, allowing Cristian to pounce and fire home.
Eyre’s men retained the ball well in the final stages as Leeds went a little more direct in search of an equaliser and eventually netted a late, late second. Scannell had already spurned a great chance in the final minute after substitute Jake Charles sent him clear, but he wasn’t to be denied when given another chance – weaving on the edge of the box before smashing the ball home.
Town’s team (4-4-2):
Lloyd Allinson; Jake Carroll, Murray Wallace, Matt Crooks, Jordan Sinnott (c); Sean Scannell, Sondre Tronstad, Duane Holmes, Joe Lolley (Jake Charles, 85); Harry Bunn, Cristian Lopez (Ben Atkinson, 89)
Unused subs:
Ed Wilczynski, Joe Wright
