U19S TRAVEL TO PLAY BRADFORD CITY

8 October 2022

Young Terriers travel across West Yorkshire in the U18 Professional Development League Cup

- Huddersfield Town Under-19s play on Saturday 8 October 2022
- Travel to Bradford City in the Professional Development League Cup
- 11am kick-off at Woodhouse Grove School

The Huddersfield Town Under-19s are back in action on Saturday 8 October, as they travel to play Bradford City in the U18 Professional Development League Cup at 11am.

The Young Terriers will play their second group stage game of their U18 Professional Development League Cup against Bradford City on Saturday 8 October, 11am kick-off, with the game taking place at Bradford City’s Training Ground at Woodhouse Grove School (Apperley Bridge, Bradford, BD10 0NR).

The youngsters will be looking to secure their first win in this competition against Bradford City after their 4-2 loss to Crewe Alexandra in the first game of the group stage.

Supporters can attend the 11am kick-off at Woodhouse Grove School on Saturday free of charge!

Josh Mazfari previewed Saturday’s game:

Mazfari started by discussing how he has found training with the First Team as well as travelling with the B Team for their Premier League Cup game before going to Luton Town in the same day.

“It’s been good training with the First Team, it’s definitely a different level of intensity in comparison to the B Team and the U19s.

“The quality is much more improved and a lot more polished, but I have been enjoying it and I think it’s helping my development.

“Travelling to both of the games in the same day on Tuesday definitely takes its toll on your body but it’s just the experiences at the end of the day, it’s all good experience that will help me in the long run hopefully.”

The 18-year-old then spoke about learning from the likes of Lee Nicholls and developing under Paul Clements and Neil Bennett.

“I especially learn from Lee Nicholls when I’m training with the First Team, he is a really big influence on me.

“In the warm-up at Luton for example, I was talking to him and asking him about dealing with the crosses and coming for the ball and technique in comparison to how I play.

“He is a very good teacher and really good at what he does, and obviously Clem as well and the other ‘keepers around - we have a really good goalkeeping department.”

The U19s ‘keeper then looked forwards to today’s game against Bradford City and what he is expecting from them as well as his aims for the rest of the season.

“The last time we played Bradford City we were quite poor in terms of building up play, but since then we have been working on attacking the box more and making sure we can convert and be more clinical.

“Before, it was just mistakes with set pieces and mistakes that we shouldn’t be making, now I think we will be much better and overall, it will be a much closer affair and I hope it will be a good game.”

“My aims for the season are to just keep travelling with the First Team, that’s probably the main one, keep gaining experience with Lee and obviously Nicholas Bilokapic as well.”

If you cannot make Academy games but you’re interested in what’s happening with the Young Terriers, you can follow them on social media!

Twitter - @htafcacademy
Instagram – htafcbteam

Match Reports

REPORT: BRADFORD CITY 2-5 TOWN U19s

10 October 2022

Goals galore in Professional Development League Cup win!

- Huddersfield Town Under-19s win 5-2 at Bradford City
- First Professional Development League Cup victory of the season
- Goals from Hazeem Bakre (2), Freddie Fletcher, Ajay Weston, and Tyree Sanusi

The Huddersfield Town Under-19 side enjoyed a thumping West Yorkshire derby win at Bradford City on Saturday morning to record their first Professional Development League Cup win of the season!

The Young Terriers were a threat all game and ran out 5-2 winners on the afternoon, showing plenty of Terrier Spirit along the way in and out of possession.

George Danaher’s side made a lightning quick start, taking the lead inside 19 seconds! Town took kick-off, working the ball back to centre half Freddie Fletcher, whose long diagonal forward was misread by the home right back. That allowed our left back Ajay Weston to stride onto the ball and send a superb cross towards the near post, where forward Hazeem Bakre (pictured above) was on hand to flash a header past the goalkeeper!

Town doubled the advantage just after the half hour mark through a set piece, with the skill of right back Joseph Johnson winning a free kick tight to the touchline inside the Bradford half. Midfielder Daniel Vost stepped across to take the delivery and whipped a pacey ball to the near post, where Fletcher was on hand to send a well-placed header between the goalkeeper and his near post.

We made it three just before the interval, with defender Weston getting on the scoresheet. Skipper Tom Iorpenda found attacking midfielder Hakeem Sandah between Bradford’s defence and midfield with a pass, and he drove forward before slipping a pass into the area for Bakre. When the forward realised he couldn’t find the space to turn, he instead laid the ball back to Ajay, who hit an excellent drive across the ‘keeper and inside the far post.

Sandah soon fired over from Fope Deru’s pass as the second half got under way in positive fashion, but Bradford mounted a fightback soon after. Two goals in six minutes just before the hour mark reduced the deficit – a superb half volley from a cross that gave goalkeeper Josh Mazfari no chance, and then a close-range finish after an initial Mazfari save.

However, Town made it 4-2 in the 64th minute through a move that owed much to Sandah. He charged back into his own half to win the ball from a City player before turning and driving at the home defence, eventually slipping a great pass into Bakre. The striker was clear and made no mistake in drawing the custodian before placing his shot into the bottom corner for his second of the game.

Sandah went close to what would have been a deserved goal soon after, but a superb fingertip save from the ‘keeper deflected his volley from Deru’s cross-field pass onto the post.

However, it was five in added time with a move that encapsulated much of what the youngsters work on in training through the week. The move started with goalkeeper Mazfari finding captain Iorpenda, who drove forward before finding Michael Parker in space down the left. MP played substitute Tyree Sanusi into the area, who managed to scoop the ball over the goalkeeper from a narrowing angle.

Town’s team (4-2-3-1)
Josh Mazfari; Joseph Johnson, Freddie Fletcher, Michael Parker, Ajay Weston (Dylan Helliwell, 66’); Daniel Vost, Tom Iorpenda (c); Cian Philpott, Hakeem Sandah, Fope Deru; Hazeem Bakre (Tyree Sanusi, 89’)

Unused subs
Francis Hurl; Archie Sheppard, Temi Okuwa

Goals
Hazeem Bakre (1’, 64’); Freddie Fletcher (33’); Ajay Weston (43’); Tyree Sanusi (90+1’)

Bookings
Daniel Vost (24’); Cian Philpott (53’)