Under-17s suffer narrow defeat

- Young Terriers defeated by Millwall side
- Ben Jackson scores his first goal of the season
- Highlights on #HTTV next week

Leigh Bromby’s Young Terriers were defeated 2-1 against Millwall at PPG Canalside on Saturday morning. Captain Ben Jackson gave Town the lead with a long range effort but two second half strikes from The Lions sent them home with all three points.

The game was Town’s first home game in two weeks having played away at Crewe on Wednesday and Ipswich the previous Saturday. Millwall had the first corner of the game in the first minute but Seth Meeson was on hand to clear.

Meeson was the standout player for Town in the opening exchanges, helping to break up the Millwall play whilst looking to get the ball forward. He, like his teammates, found it difficult though to find the forwards and in turn create any noteworthy attacks.

The London side were creating chances but were failing to test goalkeeper Giosue Bellagambi. It was the keeper’s third game with Town and he was looking to build on an impressive debut in Town’s last home fixture at home to Coventry two weeks ago. He was particularly impressive when it came to playing out from the back, remaining unafraid distributing the ball under pressure from the onrushing attackers.

The first half struggled to spark into life as the Town players couldn’t impact the final third while Millwall could, but were failing to hit their shots on target. The half time whistle blew with the score level at 0-0.

The second half started in a much livelier fashion and within nine minutes of the restart, Millwall had struck the bar. Two minutes later and Town punished Millwall. Ben Jackson received the ball in the 56th minute on the edge of the area and drilled a shot goal-wards. The keeper could only dive in vain as the powerful 25-yard effort sailed into the net to give Town the lead. The goal was Jackson’s first of the season.

In around the hour mark, Leigh Bromby rang the changes. Rhazir Smith-Jones, Taylor Annakin and Kian Harratt left the field as Darnell Mintus, Remi Thompson and Tom Bell replaced them.

Town’s lead was a short lived one though as ten minutes after they found the net, Millwall equalised. A foul from the Town defender gifted George Alexander a chance from the penalty spot. Bellagambi dived the right way but the shot was a good one and nestled in the bottom left corner. Alexander levelled the scores in the 66th minute.

The game was drawing to a close and Millwall were on top. The Town players were struggling to play through the thirds due to Millwall’s high press. With just four minutes remaining, Millwall scored their second.

Like their first goal, the second would come from a set piece. Besart Topallos rose highest in the box to head a corner into the net. The goal would prove to be the last meaningful play of the game as the referee blew the final whistle with the score finishing 2-1 to the visitors.

The young side will now look to bounce back at home to Nottingham Forest on Thursday.

Town’s Starting Line-Up (4-2-3-1):

Giosue Bellagambi; Ben Jackson (c), Tom Bamford, Dahomey Raymond, Taylor Annakin (Remi Thompson 65’); Seth Meeson, Josh Austerfield; Aaron Rowe, Ben Mills, Rhazir Smith-Jones (Darnell Mintus 55’); Kian Harratt (Tom Bell 68’)