Graham Mitchell's under-18 side enjoyed a brilliant start to the 2007/08 FA Premier Academy League season, being unbeaten in their opening four games; therefore, it seems somewhat ironic that they turned out their best performance of the season during the weekend defeat to Derby at Storthes Hall.

Town lined up in a 4-3-3 formation to start the game as usual, but the goalkeeper was a newcomer to the side. With Alex Smithies called up to the first-team bench due to Simon Eastwood's foot problem, Town fielded trialist Aaron Pratt from Sheffield Wednesday. In front of him, Liam Ridehalgh and Dave Pickering were the full-backs either side of the central pairing Leigh Franks and Spencer Harris.

In midfield Luke Williams, Lewis Collinson and Lewis Nightingale operated in tandem. Irish striker Dave Heagney played as the central striker, with Jack Hunt to his right and Stephen Brook to his left.

Along with Smithies, defender Shane Killock was also on first-team duty. Top-scorer Daniel Broadbent missed out with a groin injury as did fellow striker Chris Pert and Oliver Templeton was unavailable after undergoing a recent operation on his troublesome knee.

Disaster struck for the young Terriers after only a minute as the visitors scored. Town took the kick-off, but lost possession to the Rams who went onto score without Town touching the ball again. Despite this early set-back, a young Academy side - containing no second-year scholars at all - fought back hard and equalised after ten minutes through Dave Heagney. Luke Williams broke through the Derby midfield before slipping the ball between the two opposing centre-backs for the striker, who calmly slid the ball past the advancing 'keeper.

However, Derby scored the winning goal after 70 minutes when a shot from the edge of the box went between the legs of trialist 'keeper Pratt.

Despite the loss, Mitchell was delighted with the way in which his side performed.

"Ironically, it was the best we have played all season", the former Town centre-back told htafc.com. "Football-wise, we kept possession very well which is something we have been working on.

"I'm especially happy given that the whole team was comprised of first-year scholars. Derby had one over-age player and a host of second-year players, so it will have been good experience for our boys to compete against a more physical side."

The under-18s now travel to Sheffield United on Saturday in an 11am kick-off - check htafc.com next Monday for a full match report.

Huddersfield Town:

Aaron Pratt, Dave Pickering, Liam Ridehalgh, Luke Williams (Danny Barlow 80), Leigh Franks, Spencer Harris, Jack Hunt (Luke Durham 65), Lewis Collinson, Dave Heagney, Stephen Brook (Tom Jackson 82), Lewis Nightingale

Unused Subs: Daniel Codman, Curtis Roberts