Young Terriers victorious at home
- Town B beat Lincoln City 1-0
- Second Central League Cup win
- Reece Brown scored the winning goal
Reece Brown’s 89th-minute strike handed the Huddersfield Town B Team a 1-0 Central League Cup victory over an experienced Lincoln City side at Canalside on Tuesday afternoon.
After a couple of recent high-scoring fixtures, the Young Terriers endured a chess-like game against the Imps, with Town showing excellent game management against their far more experienced opponents before finding their deserved winner through Brown.
The first chance of the fixture fell to one of the Imps’ First Team players, Hakeeb Adelakun, who drove inwards from the right and drilled an effort that was deflected behind.
Town’s first major opportunity fell to Jaheim Headley on 13 minutes. Ben Jackson fizzed the ball into Danny Grant, who subsequently lifted a pass over the top of the Lincoln backline to Headley. The left-sided midfielder attempted to loop the ball over the goalkeeper, but Jordan Wright retreated just in time to hold onto the effort.
On 20 minutes, Micah Obiero took a high ball into his stride, with the forward wriggling in between the chasing pack; however, he could only rifle his shot high and wide.
Moments later, Adelakun jinked his way into the area from the right before pulling the ball back to Alex Wollerton, who dragged his shot wide of the far post.
Obiero then went close on the half-hour mark, sidestepping his marker before curling inches wide of the far corner from the edge of the box.
Lincoln should have taken the lead four minutes before the break. Giosue Bellagambi was baited off his line and a block saw the ball break for Wollerton on the left of the area. The winger chipped the ball centrally to Freddie Draper, who snatched at the chance as he looped his shot over the target.
Adelakun had the second period’s first chance on 47 minutes, but his drilled shot was bravely blocked by Brodie Spencer’s outstretched leg.
The Young Terriers remained firm throughout, and their desire to close down passing channels and goal-scoring opportunities was excellent to witness.
On the hour, Lincoln's substitute forward Ben House - signed yesterday from Eastleigh - almost found an opening. The burly striker managed to break forward after Spencer’s well-timed tackle ricocheted into his path. But as House gained ground on the area and pulled the trigger, captain Ben Jackson scampered across and blocked on the slide.
That chance saw a transfer in momentum, as Town enjoyed several good chances to take the lead.
On 65 minutes, Headley’s lung-busting run down the left saw him get the better of Arsenal loanee Brooke Norton-Cuffy before he forced a low save out of Wright.
Moments later, Wright raced off his line to meet a wayward ball forward, but Obiero managed to nip in and take the ball around the ‘keeper. However, the forward knocked the ball too far wide, thus narrowing the angle and seeing him hit his shot into the side-netting from the touchline.
The chances kept coming for Town as they first went close through Spencer, who hit the post with a header, and then Obiero’s fine strike across goal that was tipped wide by the ‘keeper.
Down the other end, Bellagambi made a fine save to push Adelakun’s effort wide of his near post.
The Young Terriers were rewarded for their endeavour in the final minute of normal time when they found a winner.
The ball was worked to midfielder Brown on the edge, with the midfielder showing great close control to retain possession and find a gap, from which he guided the shot into the bottom corner.
Bellagambi made another save right at the death, but Town saw out the one-goal victory.
Town B Line-up (3-4-3)
Giosue Bellagambi; Brodie Spencer, Loick Ayina (Reece Brown, 46’), Ben Jackson (C); Aaron Rowe (Sam Peplow, 46’), Connor Shanks, Etienne Camara, Jaheim Headley; Pat Jones (Ben Midgley, 62’), Micah Obiero, Danny Grant (Myles Bright, 62’)
Unused Sub
Ernaldo Krasniqi
Town Scorer
Reece Brown (89’)
