Pyke & Bojaj score in latest win
- Town U21s win at Leeds Utd
- Strikers Rekeil Pyke & Flo Bojaj score
- Highlights on HTTV on Tuesday
The amazing run of consecutive wins for Town’s Under-21 side continued on Monday afternoon with a 2-0 victory at West Yorkshire rivals Leeds United.
A goal apiece for strikers Flo Bojaj and Rekeil Pyke gave the Terriers a ninth successive victory at Under-21 level, accompanied by a sixth clean sheet in just seven games.
Both goals came in a dominant first half display by Frankie Bunn’s side, which gave the hosts no time to operate in and bossed the ball for large periods.
The first came on the quarter hour mark when Duane Holmes picked up the ball on the left side and volleyed into the penalty area, where second year Academy scholar Pyke got above his marker and planted a powerful header beyond the goalkeeper and into the far corner. That header was Rekeil’s fifth goal in just eight starts at Under-21 level this season.
The Leeds goalkeeper had to tip a set-piece over his crossbar and hold a well-struck shot from Duane Holmes soon after before the second goal followed; recent First Team debutant Bojaj getting the faintest of touches on midfielder Regan Booty in-swinging free kick from the right flank as it arrowed into the far corner.
Soon after another second year scholar Jacob Hanson, playing at centre back with Fraser Horsfall suspended and Danny Kane on international duty, hit a left-footed snapshot just wide of the post after a corner fell to him.
The Leeds custodian was in the action again when Captain William Boyle got his head to another corner, with the goalkeeper claiming it at the second attempt.
Town ‘keeper Lloyd Allinson was a virtual spectator in the opening 45 minutes, but he was called upon to make a good reaction save from Leeds forward Stokes just before the interval.
However there was still time for Ben Holmes, making a start in the absence of Philip Billing through injury, to go close to netting a world class goal when he took down Duane’s cross-field pass and lobbed it over the left back to enter the area, only to drag his volley wide of target.
Leeds came out much improved in the second half and made the next 45 minutes a real battle, but the young Terriers – led by imperious skipper Boyle at centre back – stood firm; a particular achievement with five Under-18 players on the pitch.
Hearts were in mouths just before the hour mark when home midfielder Kalvin Phillips nipped in front of Allinson to reach a long ball before going down in the box, but the referee showed no hesitation in booking the United player for simulation.
The closest Leeds came to a goal was overage striker Lee Erwin’s 80th minute shot on the turn that hit Allinson’s near post from a very narrow angle, but the Terriers had another chance to net with the final meaningful kick of the game as substitute Jack Boyle slipped Booty in on goal, who hit the near post.
Highlights of the win will appear on HTTV on Tuesday.
Town’s team (4-4-2 diamond):
Lloyd Allinson; Jack Senior, William Boyle (c), Jacob Hanson, Sondre Tronstad; Regan Booty, Ben Holmes, Duane Holmes (Jamie Spencer, 65), Ronan Coughlan; Flo Bojaj (Jack Boyle, 52), Rekeil Pyke
Unused subs:
Sam Guthrie, Dylan Cogill, Callum Charlton
