Baxter-Alleyne and Falls net in 2-2 draw at Canalside
- Huddersfield Town Academy side faces Leeds United at Canalside
- Darnel Baxter-Alleyne and Conor Falls score in a 2-2 draw
- Great performances all over the pitch from the Young Terriers
With Saturday’s EFL Youth Alliance game at Rotherham United postponed, a Huddersfield Town Academy side played a friendly against West Yorkshire rivals Leeds United at Canalside on Friday afternoon.
A mix of different ages turned out for the Young Terriers, led by Jon Worthington, and there were impressive performances all over the pitch in a 2-2 draw.
The high press and brave style of play being implemented across the Club was on full display on the pristine Canalside surface, and there were so many positive to take from a very competitive encounter.
The game started well for the Young Terriers, with the opening goal being scored inside the ninth minute. Sam Sharrock-Peplow got the press spot on and forced an error from Leeds in a dangerous area, with midfielder Darnel Baxter-Alleyne seizing possession before getting a shot away that was deflected past the Leeds goalkeeper.
Myles Bright was a constant driving force for Worthington’s side in central midfield and he went close in the 14th minute, with a trademark run at the heart of the defence resulting in another shot that forced the visiting custodian into action.
Unfortunately, an error at the other end gave United a way back into the game. Goalkeeper Giosue Bellagambi tried to play a pass into midfield that was intercepted and in trying to recover the ball, winger Gully Zunda upended an attacker. Bellagambi got so close to stopping the resulting penalty, only for the ball to squeeze underneath him.
Town continued to make the running, with Josh Okpolokpo heading a corner over the bar before Baxter-Alleyne went close to a second with a shot that just clipped the crossbar on the way over.
Bright shot just wide after another burst into the box when the second half restarted, but Leeds then enjoyed their best spell of the game and took the lead. A diagonal ball set the winger away on Town’s right and although his shot was saved by Bellagambi, the looping rebound fell to the Leeds striker, who volleyed home.
Gio made three good saves as Leeds pressed for another goal, but Town then settled back into the game and started to enjoy possession once more, with Loick Ayina and Bright central to everything good.
The deserved equaliser eventually came with four minutes left, with three 16-year-old first year scholars pivotal to the goal. It was Bright who once again started the move, breaking over halfway before slipping a pass right to Donay O’Brien-Brady. He waited for the overlapping run of Brodie Spencer before playing the perfect pass, and the right back pulled the ball back for his fellow Northern Ireland native Conor Falls to slot home.
Town’s team (4-3-3)
Giosue Bellagambi; Sam Sharrock-Peplow, Loick Ayina, Josh Okpolokpo (c) (David Adewoju, 58’), Brodie Spencer; Brahima Diarra (Conor Falls, 46’), Myles Bright, Darnel Baxter-Alleyne; Donay O’Brien-Brady, Kian Harratt (Michael Stone, 58’), Gulutte Zunda (Charles Nduwuisi-Ondo, 70’)
Final score
Huddersfield Town 2-2 Leeds United
Scorers
Darnel Baxter-Alleyne 9’, Conor Falls 86’
