Jon Worthington’s side showcase energetic performance
- Young Terriers show good attitude to win against Fleetwood Town
- Brahima Diarra (x2), Conor Falls (x2) and Evander Grubb all on target
- Win sees them progress in the EFL Youth Alliance Cup
A Huddersfield Town Academy side gave an energetic performance against Fleetwood Town as they ran out 5-0 winners to progress to the EFL Youth Alliance Cup quarter finals.
The win secured passage from the group stage over Blackpool and the Fishermen, with four points from the abridged two games.
The Young Terriers knew going into the game that a win by three clear goals would secure passage and started the game positively, creating their first chance within four minutes. The ball fell to midfielder Myles Bright after some smart footwork from striker Conor Falls, but Bright saw his shot snatched up by Fleetwood’s ‘keeper.
The visitors responded minutes later, with one of their midfielders finishing off an impressive run with an effort that went straight over the bar.
Town continued to push in the following minutes, seeing two chances from Falls just fall short. A long pass from winger Donay O’Brien-Brady saw Falls’ cross met by the ‘keeper, whilst a ball from Bright minutes later went over the bar.
The visitors responded with yet another chance of their own, when one of their wingers came forward to hit the bar, before pouncing on the rebound and forcing goalkeeper Nicholas Bilokapic into a save with his feet. The same player seized another opportunity moments later, but saw it fly past the front of the goal.
Bright found himself a second chance for the Young Terriers, but his powerful strike met the side of the net.
Town kept pushing for an opener and their work paid off in the 22nd minute, when Falls was in the right place to jump on a rebound from winger Evander Grubb’s initial effort and fire the ball past the ‘keeper.
The Young Terriers then doubled their advantage minutes later, when midfielder Brahima Diarra headed home a corner from Falls.
Yet another goal came for the youngsters came in quick succession to establish a three-goal lead going into the interval, with Diarra netting his second with a beautifully placed left-footed effort to cap off a great passing move.
Jon Worthington’s side came into the second half unchanged with the same energy.
Bright provided an impressive run in the first few moments to get through Fleetwood’s defence before passing the ball over to Grubb. Grubb hit a powerful strike from 25 yards out, but it was met by the ‘keeper.
Diarra searched for a hat-trick as he leapt highest to head the ball goalward from another ball into the box; however, it bounced away and out of play.
The visitors were still searching for a way into the game, and nearly found one when one of their midfielders found themselves in front of Town’s goal. However, he overstepped slightly and watched the ball roll towards Bilokapic.
The hosts found themselves another goal in the 69th minute, when Grubb ran onto a through-ball with a clever inside run and saw his shot bundled over the line despite the best efforts of the goalkeeper and a recovering defender.
Moments later, the Young Terriers found themselves down to 10 men when skipper Loick Ayina was handed a red card for his second bookable offence – kicking the ball away after a foul was given against him.
However, that seemed to spur Town on again and they wrapped the game up in the final 10 minutes. Grubb provided yet another power strike, where Falls was waiting to meet it when it bounced off the bar to complete his own brace.
Fleetwood had the final chance of the game in the closing minutes, but saw the ball hit the post before their rebound met Bilokapic.
The Young Terriers are back in action on Saturday (12 December 2020) when they play away at Doncaster Rovers in the EFL Youth Alliance.
Town’s team (4-3-3)
Nicholas Bilokapic; Shane Maroodza, David Adewoju, Loick Ayina (c), Brodie Spencer; Ernaldo Krasniqi (Josh Okpolokpo, 73’), Brahima Diarra, Myles Bright; Evander Grubb, Conor Falls, Donay O’Brien-Brady
Unused subs
Andre Edionhon, Darnell Baxter-Alleyne, Michael Stone, Jeremy Stewart
Scorers
Conor Falls (22’, 83’) Brahima Diarra (28’, 31’), Evander Grubb (69’)
Town bookings
Loick Ayina (50’), Ernaldo Krasniqi (65’)
Town red card
Loick Ayina (73’)
