Poor first half undoes young Terriers
Town’s under-18 side couldn’t recover from a poor opening half hour and fell to a first home defeat of the season at the hands of Crewe Alexandra this morning.
The visitors were three up inside the first half an hour at Canalside Sports Complex and despite a spirited second half performance the Terriers couldn’t get anything from the game – with striker Paul Mullin (pictured) netting a 78th minute consolation.
A fairly even opening 10 minutes at Canalside Sports Complex turned in Crewe’s favour in the 13th minute when the visitors put together an impressive move, which finished with a forward powerfully driving the ball past Town ‘keeper Ed Wilczynski.
Things went from bad to worse five minutes later when Town’s trialist right back got the wrong side of a Crewe attacker and brought him down inside the area, allowing the visitors to double their advantage from 12 yards.
Town tried to hit back but midfielder Danny Morton’s long ranger was dealt with by the visiting goalkeeper and instead Crewe made it three on the stroke of the half hour with an exquisite lob over a helpless Wilczynski after an impressive counter-attack.
Morton went close again before midfielder George Conway’s precise free-kick was turned towards goal by striker Paul Mullin, only for the goalkeeper to tip the ball over the bar.
The Terriers performed much better in the second half, but just couldn’t net the early goal that would have given them a chance to get back in the game. Midfielder Duane Holmes’ powerful effort was saved by the custodian early on before second half substitute Jake Charles fired wide soon after.
Striker Mullin headed a Charles cross onto the bar just before the hour mark before finally netting the goal Town deserved in the 78th minute with an accomplished finish.
Mullin had another shot saved in the final 10 minutes after good interplay between midfielders Holmes and Kedesh Goddard, but the damage had been done in the opening half an hour and the Terriers couldn’t find a way back.
Town’s team (4-3-3):
Ed Wilczynski; Thomas Briggs, Fraser Horsfall, Joe Wilkinson, Trialist (Michael Starkey 46); George Conway, Kedesh Goddard (c), Duane Holmes; Ryan Cox (Trialist 65), Paul Mullin, Danny Morton (Jake Charles 46)
