Hosts progress to the next round
- Chelsea beat Huddersfield Town in the FA Youth Cup
- Two goals in each half condemn the Young Terriers to defeat
- Jon Worthington’s side show plenty of fight in defeat
Multiple-time FA Youth Cup winners Chelsea proved too strong for Huddersfield Town’s Under-18 side in the Third Round of this year’s competition, scoring four goals without reply to progress to the next stage.
There’s no shame in the defeat for Jon Worthington’s side; Chelsea are unbeaten in competitive football at this level so far this season and will be among the favourites to lift the trophy again this season.
Two goals in each half were enough for the hosts at AFC Wimbledon’s Kingsmeadow ground on a night where the Young Terriers could be proud of their discipline and endeavour.
Town showed character to recover after the worst possible start, conceding after 50 seconds. Tino Livramento intercepted a pass out of defence from Town centre back Mustapha Olagunju and intelligently moved the ball quickly to striker Armando Broja. With only goalkeeper Giosue Bellagambi to beat, he faked the shot and rounded the Town stopper before placing the ball into the empty net.
There was a good stop from Bellagambi inside 10 minutes, who stood tall to block the shot from Ian Maatsen after he collected an incisive pass into the penalty area that took right back Jaheim Headley out of the game.
The Chelsea second did follow in the 22nd minute. 16-year-old centre back Loick Ayina tried to poke a long ball forward from Chelsea back to Bellagambi when under heavy pressure from Broja and couldn’t get enough on it. The striker beat the goalkeeper to the ball and nudged it right, where winger Myles Peart Harris collected. He did very well to beat the recovering Town players on the line to double the advantage.
Town had their moments in the first half. Afforded space to operate in midfield at times, their best efforts were from range through Kian Harratt, Sam Sharrock-Peplow and Myles Bright, although Harratt also had a dangerous shot blocked in the penalty area.
It took until the hour mark for Chelsea to notch a third, with a very patient passage of play paying dividends when Broja lost his marker in the box to tap home a low cross from the Town right.
The fourth came with 10 minutes left and completed the hat-trick for Broja. He span past Ayina on the right touchline before driving infield and placing the ball past the Town ‘keeper impressively from a narrow angle.
Chelsea really turned the screw late in the game and Bellagambi had to execute several saves, whilst the crossbar is still rattling from an added time penalty that was spurned by the hosts.
On a cold night in London, the Young Terriers could still leave the capital with their heads held high a week ahead of Christmas after a valiant effort.
Town’s team (4-2-3-1)
Giosue Bellagambi; Luke Daley, Mustapha Olagunju, Loick Ayina, Jaheim Headley; Ben Midgley (Gulutte Zunda, 72’), Josh Austerfield (c); Sam Sharrock-Peplow (Nassim Kherbouche, 90’), Brahima Diarra, Myles Bright; Kian Harratt
Unused substitutes
Michael Roxburgh; Joshua Okpolokpo, Luke Billam, Darnel Baxter-Alleyne, Robson Shipley
