Town triumph in 7-goal thriller

- Mark Hudson’s Under-23s beat Watford 4-3 at Vicarage Road
- Rekeil Pyke scores a hat-trick for Town
- Highlights on #HTTV this week

Huddersfield Town Under-23s triumphed 4-3 in Monday evening’s Professional Development League encounter against Watford at Vicarage Road. Rekeil Pyke scored a hat-trick for Town with Lewis O’Brien scoring the other to secure the 3 points for the Young Terriers.

Mark Hudson named a relatively young side for the visit to Vicarage Road with an average age of just 18.5 in the starting line-up. There was a first start at this age level for ‘keeper Harrison Davison-Hale and defender Jake Barrett, with midfielder Aaron Rowe making just his second start at this level.

The Young Terriers started brightly and had the first chance after just three minutes, midfielder Dom Tear had it forcing a save from captain Sam Howes in the Watford goal.

Watford reacted and took their chance in the 8th minute through Ashely Charles. The midfielder finished from inside the area with a powerful effort that struck the bar on its way in.

Going a goal down didn’t affect Hudson’s side as they responded just two minutes later. Full-back Mason O’Malley was picked out by a terrific pass by Regan Booty, as the left-back duly crossed in to the path of Rekeil Pyke who made no mistake to draw Town level.

It would be after the half-hour mark before the next big chance and it would see Town take the lead. Midfielder Scott High played a terrific through-ball to Rekeil Pyke as the young forward cut inside and slotted home for his and Town’s second of the evening.

Pyke had a chance for a hat-trick on the stroke of half-time as Lewis O’Brien won a penalty for Town having been fouled in the area. The young forward couldn’t make it count as his spot-kick was saved by the keeper diving to his left to deny Pyke his hat-trick.

Watford came out in the second-half and had two chances early chances draw level, as Harrison Davison-Hale – who was making his debut at this age level – saved just before Dom Tear had cleared the ball off the line prior to thay chance.

With the host chasing the equaliser the pendulum swung in Town’s favour as Rekeil Pyke got his hat-trick. The forward linked up with captain Lewis O’Brien, playing a neat one-two before beating the ‘keeper in a one-on-one to grab his and Town’s third of the evening.

Watford then pulled one back just before the hour mark as striker Ryan Cassidy reduced Town’s advantage to just one.

Pyke had another great chance soon after as substitute Ben Jackson delivered a terrific cross from the left that picked out Pyke, but he couldn’t direct his downward header goalwards.

Captain Lewis O’Brien then regained Town’s two-goal cushion as he got his side’s fourth of the evening. The midfielder made no mistake with a cool finish as he rounded the Watford ‘keeper and slotted home.

Watford set the game up for a grandstand finish as they cut the advantage to just one as Dion Pereira made it 4-3 with just over 5 minutes of the game remaining, but Town held out to secure the three points at Vicarage Road.

Town’s Staring Line-up (4-2-3-1):
Harrison Davison-Hale; Mason O’Malley, Rarmani Edmonds-Green (Romoney Crichlow-Noble, 69’), Jake Barrett, Jordan Williams; Scott High, Regan Booty; Aaron Rowe (Ben Jackson, 36’), Lewis O’Brien, Dom Tear; Rekeil Pyke

Unused Subs:
Harry Spratt