Winning start to Central League Cup campaign for Huddersfield Town B

- Huddersfield Town B win at Bolton Wanderers
- Striker Charles Ondo scores both in 2-1 victory
- Young Terriers defend well to secure all three points

The Town B Team started the new Central League Cup campaign with a win on Wednesday afternoon, securing a 2-1 win at Bolton Wanderers in a very competitive game.

Having rode their luck at times in the first-half, striker Charles Ondo scored goals either side of the half-time break that secured the win for George Danaher’s side, despite a late Bolton consolation.

Town ended the game with a very young side on the pitch and they really defended for each other to secure the result, whilst also creating more inviting openings.

The Young Terriers created the first chance of the game when skipper Loick Ayina, who had a very good hour on the pitch, headed over a deep corner taken by Aaron Rowe.

However, Bolton had the better of the first half, with forward Conor Carty at the heart of many things. He headed two set piece deliveries wide of target as the hosts grew into control of the game as the half went on, whilst forcing goalkeeper Nicholas Bilokapic into a smart reaction stop later with a powerful drive.

Fellow Bolton forward Gerald Sitole missed a glorious chance in the 38th minute. Bolton had some joy getting in down the side of the Town centre backs and from one such move down our right, he couldn’t sort his feet to convert the low cross when just eight yards out.

That isn’t to say Town didn’t create, because they took one of their two good chances to lead at the break. Rowe was important in both moves, providing the final pass both times. First Myles Bright – who had an excellent second half in the middle – saw his near post shot saved after being played into the area, but then striker Ondo made no mistake in the 42nd minute, collecting Rowe’s pass before turning inside centre back Lamine Toure and placing the ball past the goalkeeper.

Ondo had led the line brilliantly in Saturday’s 3-0 Premier League Cup win at Middlesbrough and did so again today, having a titanic battle with Toure throughout. He netted his second in the 52nd minute after being picked out by Bright in the area with a cross, taking an initial touch before volleying past the ‘keeper’s left side. He celebrated with a huge backflip – not bad for a trade defender!

With several senior B Team players training with the First Team at the Millers Oils High Performance Complex, it was a young side deployed by Danaher for the final half hour. They performed admirably, with the one blip being Bolton’s 82nd minute goal. A ball into the left channel wasn’t cut out by Daley and Maroodza, so the forward drew Bilokapic before rolling the ball across goal for a teammate to slide in, despite the last ditch effort of substitute Tom Iorpenda.

However, Bilokapic didn’t have another save to make as the Young Terriers braved the wind and rain to get all three points.

Town’s team (4-2-3-1)
Nicholas Bilokapic; Neo Eccleston (Michael Stone, 58’), Loick Ayina (c) (Tom Iorpenda, 58’), Shane Maroodza, Luke Daley; Sonny Whittingham, Brahima Diarra (Cian Philpott, 46’); Aaron Rowe, Donay O’Brien-Brady (Connor Shanks, 58’), Myles Bright; Charles Ondo

Unused substitute
Michael Roxburgh

Goals
Charles Ondo (42’, 57’)

Bookings
Brahima Diarra (35’), Aaron Rowe (45’)