SPD Coach happy to reach the PDL2 Play-Off Final
- Frankie Bunn reviews PDL2 semi-final win over Millwall- SPD Coach happy with how the youngsters performed
- Bunn looks ahead to PDL2 Play-Off Final vs Sheff Utd
Senior Professional Development Coach Frankie Bunn was happy to see his Town Under-21 side progress past Millwall to reach the Professional Development League 2 Play-Off Final on Tuesday afternoon.
Having won the PDL2 North title by eight points, the young Terriers defeated Millwall – the runners-up of the PDL2 South – 2-0 at a windy PPG Canalside, with the goals coming from Captain Regan Booty and Danny Kane.
Now Town will play against Sheffield United – winners of the other semi-final against Charlton Athletic – to determine the overall PDL2 champion for 2015/16.
The date and exact venue for the game are yet to be confirmed, but the Terriers have been drawn away from home after the toss of a coin at the Premier League head office.
“Having lost the previous semi-final this season, the result more important than the performance today and the boys dug in, battled, ran and tried to play when they could,” Frankie told htafc.com after this afternoon’s win.
“I was very impressed with the team in a different way today. We were very young and we came across a direct style of football, which we’ve dealt with. You will come up against all types of football and you have to deal with it.
“We had five Under-18s out there today and two schoolboys and they can be proud of themselves having now won a semi-final.
“They were quite tall up front and the number nine, Alfie Pavey, was a bit of a handful, but I thought we dealt with him quite well. It was a tough semi-final, which it should be.
“We got two early goals, which was a bonus. At half time we told the lads not to panic, because we knew we’d play against the strong wind in the second 45. We told the players to be brave with their starting lines and to win the second balls, whilst competing for the first ones.
“We were quite strong and we competed well in the back line. We also countered quite well; after a spell of pressure in the second half, we broke and sprang out and maybe could have got another one. I thought that was quite good in the second half.”
Despite the victory, which was comfortable in the end, Frankie still saw room for improvement in his young players.
“What we didn’t do particularly well was play out from the back. They had a full press on and made it really difficult.
“The conditions weren’t great for football. The grass was quite hard and bobbly with no water on it, but we did our best. We were better with the ball in the first half, but we also had spells in the second.
“As I’ve said, it was about the result today.”
Now Bunn is looking forward to the final against the Blades, who finished runners-up to Town in the northern league table.
“I believe the game will be at Bramall Lane and it’ll be nice to go back there. We’re one each on games after the regular league season and lost there, so we want to go back and get revenge.
“They’re strong – they finished as runners-up in our league – and always tend to play a couple of overage players.
“It would be nice to finish the season with a win in another final; we’ve reached them consistently in the last four years. We’ve won one and it would be nice to win another this year.
“Regardless, we’ve had a fantastic season. That’s not only on results, but we’ve also got people in the First Team. Ultimately, that’s what we’re here for.”
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