Hudson’s side secures win over Sheffield Wednesday
- Town’s U23s secure 3-2 win over table-topping Sheffield Wednesday
- Jon Gorenc Stanković plays 45 minutes as he continues his recovery
- Goals from Dom Tear, Regan Booty and Olly Dyson
Mark Hudson’s side secured a 3-2 win over table-topping Sheffield Wednesday in Monday afternoon’s Professional Development League North game at PPG Canalside.
The U23 side had a couple of First Team players involved; Jon Gorenc Stanković played 45 minutes and was withdrawn as part of a pre-planned substitution, with Sean Scannell also getting some minutes under his belt.
It was the visitors who had the first chance of the game; a corner from Alex Hunt on the left was cleared back out to the midfielder who bent his second attempt slightly over Ryan Schofield’s far post.
Lewis O’Brien was operating in the number-ten role and after some great pressing the midfielder created a breakaway for the Under-23s. Having collected the ball, O’Brien slipped in Rekeil Pyke who ran through on goal and dragged a shot just wide of the far post.
Mark Hudson’s side were attacking a Sheffield Wednesday side with three central defenders, including First Team regular Tom Lees who was stepping up his recovery from a long-term injury.
It was Town who broke the deadlock around the 15-minute mark. Scott High, who will turn 17 on Thursday, picked up the ball in the centre of midfield and broke the lines with a great pass into Rekeil Pyke. Dom Tear running through on goal, was picked out by Pyke with the midfielder opening the scoring with a cool finish across the ‘keeper into the far corner.
It would take 10 minutes for Regan Booty to double Town’s lead. The midfielder’s initial in-swinging corner from the right was cleared back to Booty, and at the second attempt the deep cross evaded everyone – including Dan Wallis in the Owls goal - and nestled into the top corner to increase the "Young Terriers" advantage.
With half-time approaching, Lewis O’Brien would strike the bar following some great individual work, displaying real ‘Terriers Identity’. The midfielder forced a turnover from an opposing defender with some exceptional pressing and having collected the ball drove goalwards. Having initially played a one-two with Rekeil Pyke, the midfielder hit an effort from the edge of the area on his weaker right foot that struck the crossbar and went just over.
Both Sean Scannell and Jon Gorenc Stanković was withdrawn and replaced by Olly Dyson and Romoney Crichlow-Noble respectively, with Mark Hudson’s side going into the break with a two-goal advantage.
The next piece of action came just after the hour mark as Sheffield Wednesday found a way back into the game. A deep corner wasn’t dealt with by the the U23s defence and having been played back across goal, Tom Lees was on hand to tap home and half the deficit; with the defender then withdrawn from proceedings.
Mark Hudson's side responded well to regain their advantage just two minutes later. A cross from the left wasn’t dealt with by the Sheffield Wednesday goalkeeper, who dropped the ball right into the path of Olly Dyson who pounced and tapped home into the empty net. The second goal of the week for Dyson who had netted on his debut for Liversedge where he is currently on work experience.
The visitor pulled one back in the closing stages as a cross from the left took a wicked deflection off a Town defender that wrong footed everyone, including Ryan Schofield in the Town goal to reduce the Under-23s advantage to just one goal.
Sheffield Wednesday piled players forward in the closing stages, including towering central-defender Frederik Nielsen, but some dogged defending by Mark Hudson’s side was sufficient to secure the win over their table-topping Yorkshire-rivals.
Highlights of the game will be available on #HTTV tomorrow.
Town’s Starting Line-up (4-2-3-1):
Ryan Schofield; Mason O’Malley, Rarmani Edmonds-Green, Jon Gorenc Stanković (45’, Romoney Crichlow-Noble), Jordan Williams; Regan Booty, Scott High; Dom Tear (76’, Luca Colville), Lewis O’Brien (c), Sean Scannell (40’, Olly Dyson); Rekeil Pyke
Unused Subs:
Luke Mewitt, Micah Obiero
TEAM NEWS with @ViessmannUK: Under-23 Coach @M_Hudson5 has named both Jon Gorenc Stanković & Sean Scannell in his side for this afternoon's Professional Development League game against @swfc at @htafcCanalside; 1pm K.O with admission only £1 (CL) pic.twitter.com/7SduafdKom
— HTAFC Academy (@htafcacademy) February 12, 2018
