Frickley: Mike Whitwell (57)
A very youthful Town team were defeated by a single goal during tonight's pre-season friendly at Evo-Stik League side Frickley Athletic.
Town started the game positively, with Aidan Chippendale having an early run at the defenders and earning a corner. That set the tone for the game, with the outlet of wing-back Hunt and in particular Chippendale a constant threat to the Frickley defence.
Australian midfield trialist Calum Hare was the first to try his luck at goal when his left-footed curler from just over 20 yards out drifted over the crossbar and then fellow trialist John Rooney had a great chance to open the scoring five minutes later. A quick throw from Chippendale out near the corner flag released Lionel Ainsworth into the box, but when the forward laid the ball back to the former Macclesfield man he couldn't make proper contact with the ball when in a good position.
Rooney almost made amends in the 15th minute when he bent a curler inches wide of the 'keeper's left-hand post before side-stepping a defender and powering a shot straight at the home custodian from outside the area barely a minute later.
Chippendale was back to the fore in the 18th minute, showing incredible feet to weave past three defenders on the edge of the area before threading a pass to onrushing midfielder Chris Atkinson; however, the Academy graduate couldn't sort his feet out quickly enough and scuffed a left footed effort straight at the goalie.
Frickley had their best chance of the game two minutes later when lively left winger Leon Henry slipped former Town striker Danny Broadbent in on goal, but trialist goalkeeper Nathan Dean - once of the Manchester City Academy - did very well to narrow the angle and block the striker's effort.
Left wing back Chippendale pulled a cross-come-shot wide of the far post and agonisingly ahead of strikers McCaffery and Ainsworth soon afterwards after being put in by midfielder Hare before second year scholar McCaffery had Town's best opportunity of the half in the 29th minute. A chip over the top from Hunt released the diminutive striker into the area but after the goalkeeper pushed his initial effort up into the air, McCaffery put the rebound over the bar on the volley with the goal gaping.
The dangerous Chippendale placed a wicked swerving effort just wide of the 'keeper's right-hand post from range with ten minutes of the half remaining as Town continued to make the running.
Jack Hunt made the first positive run of the second-half inside the 50th minute, tearing away from a Frickley corner down the left flank before turning the ball inside for Rooney who powered a 25-yard drive straight at the 'keeper.
Broadbent pulled a 25-yard volley well wide at the other end shortly afterwards before home midfielder Danny Walsh charged forward to the edge of the Town box and pushed his left-foot shot inches wide of Dean's left-hand post.
Frickley were enjoying their best spell of the game at this stage and shortly after Town had brought on a host of youngsters from the bench they took the lead. Substitute striker Mike Whitwell broke into the area with the ball and forced a mishit left-footed effort between the 'keeper and the far post to the delight of the home fans.
The Terriers had switched to 4-4-2 by this point, with Ainsworth and Chippendale deployed as orthodox wingers and Rooney joining Academy first-year scholar Max Leonard in attack. That combination - the chest of Leonard and the pass of Rooney - set winger Ainsworth into space in the 72nd minute but the former Watford man fired wide of goal from an acute angle.
Rooney looked like Town's most likely goalscorer in the closing stages, with two shots going wide in the latter stages and in the end trialist Dean made a brilliant save at the Town end to deny Frickley a late second.
Town's Team (3-5-2):
Nathan Dean; Greg Pearson (Dominic Dickinson 55), Liam Ridehalgh, Jim Goodwin (c); Aidan Chippendale, Chris Atkinson (Adam Colton 55), John Rooney, Calum Hare, Jack Hunt (Aidan D'Arcy 73); Michael McCaffery (Max Leonard 55), Lionel Ainsworth
Unused Sub: Lloyd Allinson
