Young Terriers faced Doncaster Rovers
- Leigh Bromby reflects on narrow defeat for U17s
- Under-17s narrow defeat to table topping Doncaster Rovers
- Read Academy Manager’s thoughts on the game
Huddersfield Town’s Under-17 side travelled to face Doncaster Rovers in the penultimate game of their Youth Alliance campaign.
The game carried significant importance to the host who required a win to further improve their chances of claiming the title in the North East Division.
As part of his development, left-sided winger Sam Sharrock-Peplow played as the striker in the team to give him a better awareness of the position focusing on making runs in behind.
Leigh Bromby’s side started well and had the lion share of the game; both in terms of chances and possession, forcing the Doncaster long in possession. Sharrock-Peplow and Headley both had chances and were unable to open the scoring for the Young Terriers.
With the scores level, Giosue Bellagambi was forced into action producing a sublime double save to deny the opener for Doncaster Rovers.
Town did open the scoring through makeshift frontman Sharrock-Peplow whose deflected effort from range granted the Young Terriers a one-goal advantage.
After the break, a resurgent Doncaster side started to see more of the ball, and it would soon tip even further in their favour after Sharrock-Peplow was shown a red card on the hour-mark for an off-the-ball incident.
The subsequent free-kick handed them a lifeline with Doncaster levelling the game up from a cross during the second phase of play from a deep free-kick.
Town’s youngsters struggled to create chances a man light and went a goal behind midway through the second-half with an unfortunate defensive mistake handing Doncaster a duly taken chance.
Academy Manager Leigh Bromby reflected on the game:
“This game provided a good challenge for our players. A team who are slightly older than us and more physically developed.
“The players stood up to the challenge well in the first-half and we were probably the better team. The lads played well through the thirds and showed a good understanding of the high fight zone. Doncaster really upped their game in the second-half and made it more difficult for us.
“Whilst we lost the game, it really shows how far the players have come because at the start of the season we may well have easily lost this game.”
The Under-17s face Liverpool this evening at Kirkby and then host Rotherham United in the final game of the Youth Alliance campaign on Saturday 4 May 2019 at PPG Canalside with kick-off at 11am.
Town’s Starting Line-up (4-3-3):
Giosue Bellagambi; Jaheim Headley, Nassim Kherbouche, Tom Bamford, Dwight Pascal; Tom Bell, Taylor Annakin, George Alfieri; Remi Thompson, Sam Sharrock-Peplow, Andrew Ijiwole
Subs:
Mo Diaby, Robson Shipley
Final Score:
Doncaster Rovers 2-1 Huddersfield Town U17s
