Town’s EDT beaten by Celtic Reserves at PPG Canalside
- Town’s EDT defeated 3-1 by Celtic in friendly at PPG Canalside
- Improved second half performance not enough for Leigh Bromby’s side
- Kieran Phillips scores from the spot
Huddersfield Town’s Elite Development Team suffered a 3-1 defeat in a friendly against Celtic Reserves at PPG Canalside on Tuesday afternoon.
The visitors took the lead early on with Karamoko Dembele netting an opener inside eight minutes, and Kieran McGrath doubled the visitors’ advantage midway through the first half.
Leigh Bromby’s side showed signs of improvement after the break when Kieran Phillips converted from the penalty spot to half the deficit, but Cameron Harper went on to extend the Bhoys’ lead 15 minutes from full-time.
Celtic were rewarded for their early dominance when Dembele opened the scoring. Liam Burt’s drilled cross from the left-hand-side allowed the 16-year-old winger to capitalise and lash in from close range to give the visitors an early advantage.
Town responded instantly with an intricate exchange between Aaron Rowe and Will McCamley seeing the latter release a powerful effort which flew just over the crossbar.
The Bhoys proved a constant threat throughout the duration of the first half and doubled their lead when McGrath intercepted a misplaced pass in the final third and finished with conviction into the bottom right corner 18-yards from goal.
The visitors thought they had scored their third of the half when McGrath turned from scorer to provider as he combined with Barry Coffee. The midfielder finished with composure past Town goalkeeper Jacob Chapman, but the goal was ruled out as he was adjudged to be offside.
The Young Terriers began to grow into the contest just before the break and manufactured an opportunity to reduce the deficit as McCamley delivered an exceptional cross into the area locating Phillips whose header rattled the crossbar.
Chapman ensured that the score line remained within Town’s reach when he produced an outstanding stop to deny Coffee from distance. Coffee’s volley looked destined to hit the back of the net, but Chapman was able to tip the ball onto the post, to Coffee’s disbelief.
Town had the opportunity to get a foothold back into the match after being awarded a penalty for a mistimed challenge on Phillips. The striker took on the responsibility and confidently converted from the spot, but any chance of a late Town resurgence was extinguished when Harper further increased the visitors’ tally.
Huddersfield Town’s EDT (4-2-3-1)
Jacob Chapman; Demeaco Duhaney, Mustapha Olagunju (72’ Ilounga Pata), Romoney Chirchlow-Noble, Ben Jackson; Scott High (C), Isaac Marriott (45’ Tim Akinola); Aaaron Rowe, Josh Auserfield (60’ Sam Sherrock-Peplow), Will McCamley; Kieran Phillips
Unused subs
Giosue Bellagambi, Tom Bamford
Scorer
Keiran Phillips 57'
Final score
Huddersfield Town EDT 1-3 Celtic Reserves