Preston North End vs on 21 Nov 19 - Match Centre

Young Terriers are benefitting from Clarets Cup games

- Youngsters face Preston North End tomorrow
- Performance game emulates First Team game preparations
- Live match updates available via @htafcacademy on Twitter

Jon Worthington’s Under-17s will be emulating the First Team when they take on Preston North End tomorrow.

As games for Town’s youngsters continue to come thick and fast, and in different competitions, the Clarets Cup gives them the chance to gain vital experience of how the HTAFC First Team would prepare for a game.

Huddersfield Town’s Academy Manager, Leigh Bromby, commented on why the Clarets Cup is important for the side’s growth.

“The game against Preston is a performance game for our Under-17s – a game that we structure and work on to try and win, so we try and emulate the First Team.

“Usually we travel in a mini bus, but tomorrow we’re travelling in the First Team bus to try and create a performance environment.

“We take more staff with us and there’s more emphasis put on the game in the terms of we’re trying to win.”

Bromby also spoke about why creating that winning feeling is beneficial to the team.

“The lead up to the game is run like it would be for the First Team, so the presentations are different, and the staff try to create that pressure which comes when playing for a First Team.

“We try to create that feel for them around winning and try to learn that and then the review will be about that – how to win the game.

“I think it’s an important part of their learning that they get that feeling, and that’s why we entered the Under-17s into the Clarets Cup.”

The game will kick-off at 1pm at St George’s Park (DE13 9RN) on Thursday 21 November 2019 and supporters are welcome to attend.

If you can’t attend the game, then you can follow live match updates on Twitter @htafcacademy.

Young Terriers enjoy a deserved victory at St. George’s Park

- Goals from Town’s trialist (x2) and Myles Bright in Under-17 win
- Now three wins from four in the Clarets Cup for Town
- Coach Jon Worthington happy with the attacking performance

Town’s Under-17s produced a comfortable performance to beat Preston North End 3-1 in the latest ‘Clarets Cup’ game at St. George’s Park today.

The Young Terriers’ trialist opened the scoring and Myles Bright (pictured above) made it 2-0 shortly afterwards, although PNE pulled one back on the stroke of half time.

Jon Worthington’s side then turned it on in the second half and could have scored more on another day. Victory was sealed deep into extra time thanks to the trialist, scoring with the help of a deflection.

After a slow start to the game, The Terriers emerged on top and nearly took the lead when Brahima Diarra’s half volley was well saved.

The opening goal came just minutes later, however, when the trialist, who scored in the last Clarets Cup game, cut onto his right foot in the area and rolled the ball past the ‘keeper.

Now with the momentum on their side, the Under-17s did well to double their lead. Bright was first to react to a loose ball on the edge of the area, rounded the onrushing goalkeeper before slotting home.

Town were in control, although Preston did bring the deficit back to one just before the break.

With the game at tipping point The Young Terriers took a grip on proceedings, penning Preston in for the majority of the second half and creating several chances to put the game to bed.

The chance finally came in time added on, when in the 92nd minute the trialist again popped up with the goods, adding a third thanks to a deflection.

This win means Town now have three wins from four games in the Clarets Cup – a competition created by Burnley FC specifically for Under-17 players - and coach Jon Worthington was especially pleased with how his side did in today’s performance-focused game.

He said: “I’m really pleased. We had a bit of a slow start and then after that, we grew into the game and dominated the majority.

“We were a constant threat with the pace we had up front, we transitioned really well, and we made it really uncomfortable for their back four.

“You always feel at 2-1 the game is finely balanced, but we did create wave after wave of chances, and it took until late on to get the third; on another day we could have got a few more.”

It was a great result for the Under-17s, although the work doesn’t stop as they host Scunthorpe United at PPG Canalside in just two days.

This quick turnaround means ‘Worthy’ already has his side in preparation mode for the next fixture.

“Tomorrow will be a lighter session as we’ve just played, and we may have to make a few changes to freshen it up. It’s another game for the lads and we’ll look forward to it.”

Town’s Under-17 team vs Preston North End (4-3-3)
Michael Roxburgh; Luke Daley, Nassim Kherbouche, Loick Ayina, Taylor Annakin (Robson Shipley, 90+2’); Luke Billam (Darnel Baxter-Alleyne, 68’), Myles Bright, Ben Midgley (c); Gulutte Zunda, Brahima Diarra, Trialist

Unused substitutes

Ernaldo Krasniqi, Andre Edionhon, Trialist

Final score

Huddersfield Town Under-17s 3-1 Preston North End

Scorers

Trialist (35’, 90+2’), Myles Bright (43’)

Huddersfield Town

UNDER-17S EMULATE FIRST TEAM EXPERIENCES IN CLARETS CUP

REPORT: PRESTON 1-3 TOWN U17s