Town's under-18 side deservedly beat their visitors from Sheffield Wednesday by three goals to nil at Storthes Hall at the weekend thanks to a Daniel Broadbent (pictured) brace and a first goal of the season from Tom Jackson.

Graham Mitchell's side put in a very impressive performance at the training ground to see off the Owls in the build-up to the important FA Youth Cup sponsored by E.ON Third Round fixture with Birmingham City on December 12th.

Mitchell deployed his side in a 4-4-2 formation at the start of the game, with England under-18 goalkeeper Alex Smithies playing behind a back four of (from left to right) Jackson, Daniel Codman, Spencer Harris and Dave Pickering. Curtis Roberts and Liam Ridehalgh occupied the right and left wings respectively with Lewis Nightingale and Jack Hunt in the middle, with Danny Barlow partnering Broadbent in attack.

Town opened the scoring in the 17th minute after Wednesday failed to effectively clear a left-sided Jack Hunt corner, with the ball coming back into the box from the midfield man and falling to Tom Jackson, who made no mistake from just ten yards out on his favoured left foot.

The prolific Danny Broadbent doubled the lead on the half-hour mark, running down the right-hand channel before cutting in onto his left foot and beating the visiting 'keeper from 20 yards out.

Broadbent then got his second of the game and seventh of the Academy season so far after 55 minutes when he went around the goalkeeper and slotted the ball into the bottom corner from an acute angle.

Under-18 manager Mitchell was delighted with the performance of his side, as he told htafc.com today.

"The team put in a very good performance on Saturday and had several other opportunities on top of the three goals," the former Town centre-back told the official website. "I can only remember Alex (Smithies) making one real save of note and the lads fully deserved their win.

"Our performances have been good over the last month and I'm delighted that I'm able to give all of the scholars some good time on the pitch - for instance, it was great to give Danny Barlow and Liam Ridehalgh 90 minutes here as they've not played much in recent weeks.

"Every player that I put out onto the pitch is impressing at the moment and as it stands, everyone is in line for a place in the FA Youth Cup game against Birmingham."

Leigh Franks, Lewis Collinson, Chris Pert, Luke Williams and Stephen Brook all missed out through injury or illness against Wednesday but Mitchell is hopeful that a few of the players will be back by that important game on December 12th.

Town's Team vs. Sheffield Wednesday

Alex Smithies, David Pickering (James Spencer 80), Tom Jackson, Lewis Nightingale (Luke Durham 70), Spencer Harris, Daniel Codman, Curtis Roberts (Dave Heagney 85), Jack Hunt, Daniel Broadbent, Danny Barlow, Liam Ridehalgh

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