A Town under-18 side depleted by injury put in an excellent performance and gained a worthy point against their visitors from Sheffield Wednesday this weekend.

Manager Graham Mitchell was without six regulars ahead of the game and lost another two during the ninety minutes, but first-year scholar Chris Atkinson's goal with five minutes of the game left proved to be enough to give the young Terriers a share of the spoils.

Midfielder Atkinson (pictured right) netted his first goal for the under-18 side after making a good run beyond the strikers and slotting the ball past the Owls 'keeper one-on-one, but credit must go to striker Hatib Cham for the assist. Fourteen year-old Cham - known as 'Tibby' - was making his debut in the FA Premier Academy League and the striker did well to turn his marker before sliding the pass through for Atkinson.

Chances also fell to strikers Danny Barlow and Dave Heagney through the game, but the draw was probably a fair reflection of the balance of play.

First-team squad member Dan Codman also got a welcome ninety minutes under his belt as an overage player.

The Academy have a welcome week off now, giving time for Jack Hunt, Leigh Franks, Spencer Harris, Lewis Nightingale, Liam Ridehalgh, Stephen Brook and Aidan Chippendale to recover from their respective injuries and for striker James Spencer to recover from illness.

Town's Team (4-4-2):

Damian Eastham; Dave Pickering (c), Adam Bower, Dan Codman, Stephen Brook (Josh McClean 46); Luke Durham, Chris Atkinson, Ryan Watson, Aidan Chippendale (Hatib Cham 55); Dave Heagney, Danny Barlow (Luke Williams 85)

Unused Sub: Chris Pert

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