Another good outing for Huddersfield Town B
- Town B drew 2-2 with Blackburn Rovers
- Another good test for Huddersfield Town’s youngsters
- Mustapha Olagunju and Kian Harratt were on the scoresheet
Huddersfield Town’s B Team earned a hard-fought draw against a strong Blackburn Rovers outfit in Lancashire on Monday afternoon.
Goals either side of half-time from Mustapha Olagunju and Kian Harratt saw Danny Schofield’s side bounce back after falling behind midway through the first half before Rovers found an equaliser 20 minutes from time to ensure it ended honours even in Blackburn.
Blackburn began in the ascendancy and commanded the lion’s share of possession and chances in the early exchanges. Sam Gallagher rattled the post with an improvised effort inside the opening six minutes, before Town goalkeeper Nicholas Bilokapic was forced into making a smart stop to deny the hosts from long range.
Town created their first opportunity of the half as midfielder Ben Jackson swiftly manipulated the ball to Jaden Brown advancing forward from left-back. Brown crossed early to striker Kian Harratt in a pocket of space inside the penalty area, who controlled well under pressure but had his shot smothered.
Rovers’ early dominance was eventually reflected in the scoreline when they took the lead in the 19th minute of the match. Central defender Romoney Crichlow’s attempted pass into midfield was intercepted and eventually slipped through to Sam Burns who converted past Bilokapic into the bottom left corner.
The Young Terriers responded positively to falling behind and equalised just five minutes later. Matty Daly delivered an in-swinging corner towards the near post where centre-back Olagunju rose highest to head in and score his second goal in as many matches for Town’s B Team.
Town completed the turnaround early in the second half as Daly drove purposeful into the penalty area and had the awareness to square the ball to Harratt who confidently dispatched with his left foot from close range.
The frenetic nature of the second half continued as Bilokapic was called into to action on several occasions; firstly diving to his right to divert a Charlie Mulgrew free-kick wide of the post, before later reacting quickly and using his feet to block a header at the back post.
There was again nothing to split the two sides, however, as Rovers found an equaliser 20 minutes from time. The ball fell kindly in the area to Isaac Whitehall who finished emphatically to ensure the match ended as a draw.
Final score
Blackburn Rovers Reserves 2-2 Huddersfield Town B Team
Scorers
24’ Mustapha Olagunju
55’ Kian Harratt
Huddersfield Town B Team (4-3-3)
Nicholas Bilokapic; Jaden Brown (Brahima Diarra, 46’), Romoney Crichlow (Loick Ayina, 46’), Mustapha Olagunju, Demeaco Duhaney (Aaron Rowe, 46’); Ben Jackson, Josh Austerfield (C), Matty Daly (Will McCamley, 62’); Jaheim Headley (Myles Bright, 78’), Kian Harratt (Kieran Phillips, 62’), Patrick Jones
Unused Sub
Giosue Bellagambi
