Under-21s east past Owls
- Youngsters beat Sheffield Wednesday 3-1- Ronan Coughlan (pictured) grabs a brace
- Terriers qualify for end of season Play-Offs
Huddersfield Town’s Under-21s made sure of their place in the Professional Development League Two Play-Offs with a 3-1 victory over Yorkshire rivals Sheffield Wednesday at PPG Canalside this afternoon.
Attacker Ronan Coughlan netted an impressive brace whilst winger Jake Charles notched the other goal to ensure that the Terriers got their revenge after the Owls won the previous fixture between the two sides on March 29.
Senior Professional Development Coach Frankie Bunn made two changes to the side that thrashed Brentford 4-0 last week, with Tim Brown being included in goal who is on trial from West Ham United.
Meanwhile, Ishmael Miller was named as the main striker with fellow First-Teamer Flo Bojaj part of the three attacking midfielders positioned behind the former West Bromwich Albion man.
Town began positively and could’ve taken the lead inside the opening five minutes as centre half Fraser Horsfall connected to a corner, but his attempted clever flick was cleared away desperately by the visitors.
Miller was looking good when the hosts could find him with the ball and he threaded through Jake Charles in behind who kept running but his goal-bound effort was saved well by Cameron Dawson. But the Terriers didn’t have to wait much longer to break the deadlock.
Coughlan made a shrewd run into the box and a delivery from the right found his path, and he slotted home with composure.
Soon after, Charles ran meaningfully in behind once again and fired over the crossbar.
However, the Terriers were dealt a blow on the half-hour mark as the away side equalised. Right midfielder Jack Stobbs lurked inside the box and a cross found its way to his head via a flick-on, and he made no mistake to nod it beyond Brown.
Moments later, Charles was again in the action as he chased a ball over the top and he pounced on an error at the back, but just couldn’t direct his half-volley on target. Miller then had a couple of opportunities which were thwarted, before he was brought off at half-time with Rekeil Pyke coming on.
And the physical forward was involved straight away as he raced in behind Wednesday’s backline and progressed towards the area before playing it across to Flo Bojaj, whose shot lost its sting due to a deflection and it looped into the arms of Dawson.
Town were rewarded for their attacking endeavours as they retook the lead. Charles was threaded through just inside the 18-yard-box and he ruthlessly let one fly into the bottom corner.
In-form Lewis O’Brien then replaced Jamie Spencer as they chased a third, with full back Jack Senior coming close to getting on the scoresheet, although his powerful drive flew comfortably wide of the mark.
Bunn’s men continued to work extremely hard to ensure that their lead was kept, and the away side were finding it hard to make inroads, and they were duly punished four minutes from time when Coughlan dispatched his second.
The Limerick-born man was fed incisively by O’Brien, and instinctively hit it low and hard past the helpless goalkeeper to hand his side the all-important three points that qualifies them for the Play-Offs.
If Town finishes first in the division, they will come up against the second-placed team from the Southern section, however, they have four regular league games remaining to determine their position.
Highlights from the game will appear on HTTV on Friday.
Town’s team: (4-2-3-1):
Tim Brown; Jack Senior, Fraser Horsfall, Danny Kane, Jordan Williams; Regan Booty (c), Jamie Spencer (Lewis O’Brien 60’); Ronan Coughlan (Jack Boyle 88’), Flo Bojaj, Jake Charles; Ishmael Miller (Rekeil Pyke 46’)
Unused subs:
Ryan Schofield, Joe Wilkinson
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