Young Terriers perform excellently at Loftus Road
A young Huddersfield Town Development side performed excellently in recording a comprehensive 4-1 win against Queens Park Rangers at Loftus Road on Monday evening.
With Under-21 regulars William Boyle, Joe Wright, Jake Charles and Ben Atkinson all missing and Senior Professional Development Coach Frankie Bunn’s side containing no overage players for the third straight game, Town fielded four Under-18 Academy scholars from the start with a further five on the bench.
One of those – second year centre back Fraser Horsfall – got Town off the mark in the 18th minute on his first Under-21 start, heading home a corner from Under-18 teammate Jack Senior.
Town’s high pressing game caused Rangers problems all evening and almost led to a second eight minutes later when striker Flo Bojaj won back possession high up the pitch. Flo found strike partner Rekeil Pyke with a pass, but the first year scholar hit the post with his shot.
As usual, Duane Holmes was at the heart of Town’s performance and he did score the second goal after the half-hour mark; playing a neat one-two with Sondre Tronstad on the edge of the QPR box before firing past the goalkeeper, courtesy of a deflection.
‘Keeper Lloyd Allinson made a great save to keep Rangers at bay soon after the interval and the young Terriers capitalised in the 53rd minute when Under-18 defender Jacob Hanson charged down the right before passing to Pyke, who made no mistake with a neat low finish from an acute angle.
Town’s fourth came on the break in the 63rd minute; a trademark Duane Holmes burst through the heart of QPR’s midfield saw the diminutive playmaker find Bojaj with a slide-rule pass and he cleverly drew the goalkeeper before dinking the ball over his dive with his left.
Sadly Town’s clean sheet was lost in second-half added time when Rangers netted a consolation, but that was merely a blot on an excellent performance.
Highlights from the game will appear on www.youtube.com/officialhtafc on Tuesday!
Town’s team:
Lloyd Allinson, Jacob Hanson, Jack Senior, Duane Holmes (Jack Boyle, 87), Joe Wilkinson (c), Fraser Horsfall, Sondre Tronstad (Regan Booty, 78), Philip Billing, Ben Holmes (Jamie Spencer, 89), Flo Bojaj, Rekeil Pyke
Unused subs:
Tadhg Ryan, Danny Kane
Town booking:
Flo Bojaj (35)
