Young Terriers side impresses in defeat to senior opposition
- Huddersfield Town Under-19s defeated by Harrogate Town
- Good experience against senior opposition for the Young Terriers
- 16-year-old Kian Harratt nets the goal for Dean Whitehead’s side
A young Huddersfield Town Under-19 side will have learned a lot from a game against a good senior side in Vanarama National League promotion hopefuls Harrogate Town in the latest game of the season on Tuesday morning.
Led by Dean Whitehead, the Terriers’ starting XI was one of the youngest of the Under-19 season, with 16-year-old Kian Harratt starting up front and four 17-year-olds playing in Ben Jackson, Scott High, Josh Austerfield and Jaheim Headley.
The physicality of the home side was a real challenge for the Young Terriers in the opening 45 minutes; one they will have learned a lot from.
Trialist goalkeeper Jacob Chapman – an 18-year-old Australian – performed very well to keep the score level in the early stages. He made four saves in the first 20 minutes, all routine apart from the first; an impressive stop to prevent Harrogate taking the lead after a direct counter-attack.
Chapman’s most impressive stops came on the 25-minute mark. After turning a 20-yard free-kick over the crossbar, the stop from the resulting corner was even more impressive; he pushed away a powerful header thanks to top class reactions.
The first real Town chance of note came on the stroke of the half-hour. Midfielder High played a great ball down the left channel for full back Ben Jackson to run onto and his cross into the box was of real quality, but sadly nobody could get on the end of the ball.
This was Town’s best period to date and they soon capitalised by scoring the game’s first goal in the 32nd minute. Right back Demeaco Duhaney was the creator and deserved most of the credit, embarking on a superb run from defence and carrying the ball to the edge of the Harrogate penalty area. His eventual shot was heading wide, but striker Harratt was in the right place at the right time and guided the ball past the goalkeeper.
That was Harratt’s 24th goal for Town so far this season for all age groups; a remarkable return from the former Barnsley man.
Unfortunately for Whitehead, the home side netted an equaliser before half-time; a lob over Chapman despite what looked like a foul in the build-up.
Harrogate Town finished the half strongly, forcing Chapman into another smart save before having another goal ruled out for a clear push on Crichlow-Noble in the move.
Whitehead’s side started the second-half well, taking the game to the hosts. Some excellent play from winger Aaron Rowe soon setup Micah Obiero with a shooting chance, although his effort lacked the power to trouble the goalkeeper, before centre back Rarmani Edmonds-Green flicked a corner across the face of goal with his head.
Rowe and Obiero combined again with 20 minutes left to set High away, but his pull-back was well gathered by the goalkeeper.
Unfortunately, the home side took the lead from a 72nd minute corner and the Terriers couldn’t find the equaliser, despite some good passages of play. Substitute Sam Sharrock-Peplow – another player from the Under-17 group – flashed a ball across the face of goal and then Jackson, now playing on the wing, pulled a shot just wide after a good pass from Crichlow-Noble.
Young midfielder Austerfield almost set Jackson and then Headley through on goal with excellent passes as the game ended, only for the offside flag and skiddy surface to deny the Terriers.
Highlights of the game will appear on #HTTV later this week.
Town’s team (4-3-3)
Jacob Chapman; Ben Jackson, Romoney Crichlow-Noble, Rarmani Edmonds-Green, Demeaco Duhaney; Jaheim Headley, Scott High (c), Josh Austerfield; Micah Obiero, Kian Harratt (Sam Sharrock-Peplow, 60’), Aaron Rowe
Unused subs
Harrison Davison-Hale; Oran Thompson, Sam Gibson, Tom Bell
