Huddersfield Town’s Under-19s came from behind twice to draw
- Town’s U19s drew 2-2 with Middlesbrough
- Huddersfield Town’s youngsters came from behind twice
- Brahima Diarra and Jaheim Headley were on the scoresheet
Huddersfield Town’s Under-19s drew 2-2 with Middlesbrough in a closely fought contest at Rockcliffe.
Brahima Diarra and Jaheim Headley both netted for the Young Terriers to keep the scoresheet level at the final whistle.
Middlesbrough’s XI included some strong names in the form of First Team players Grant Hall and Ashley Fletcher.
The game began at a frantic pace with both sides finding the back of the net early on.
The home side took an early lead in the fourth minute as Middlesbrough's right winger proved difficult to handle. The midfield player darted down the right side well before clipping the ball across the face of goal. The ball then cannoned off the inside of the right post to settle inside the net.
Town reacted well to conceding early on and found their equaliser just five minutes later. Some impressive interplay between Matty Daly and Brahima Diarra saw the visitors advance through the midfield and into a threatening position. Daly's backheeled pass was struck powerfully by Diarra on the edge of the box and into the bottom left corner of the goal.
Town came close to finding the lead in the 18th minute as Micah Obiero's impressive run down the right created an opening. Unfortunately for the Young Terriers, Obiero's cross was marginally too far ahead of Daly, allowing the keeper to claim.
Despite chances for Town, Middlesbrough were able to break through their defence and prove a threat. Giosue Bellagambi produced an important save in the 26th minute to palm the Middlesbrough midfielder's curling effort around the post.
Middlesbrough continued to press and took the lead again in the 36th minute. The attacking midfielder was allowed to break down the left, dribbling the ball to the post before poking it under Bellagambi into the back of the net.
Town began the second half brightly and tested the keeper in the 49th minute. An inswinging freekick from the right taken by Sam Peplow found Kian Harratt inside the box, whose low header was well saved by Boro’s goalkeeper.
Town levelled the scoresheet once more in the 57th minute thanks to Jaheim Headley. An attack from Daly found its way to Headley rushing into the box from the left. Headley slammed his shot under the ‘keeper, forcefully finding the bottom right corner.
The Young Terriers had the chance to go ahead as the ball fell to Brahima Diarra on the edge of the box. However, the young midfielder was denied a brace as the keeper saved his low curled effort.
Daly came even closer for the youngsters just moments later. The midfielder cut inside from the left l and curled a shot narrowly wide of the far post.
Town continued to pile on the pressure in the closing minutes and came close yet again to stealing a late winner, this time through Sam Peplow. A pass from Daly set Peplow up nicely, however his shot fell agonisingly wide of the bottom right corner.
Huddersfield Town’s Under-19s (4-3-3)
Giosue Bellagambi; Jaheim Headley, Mustapha Olagunju, Loick Ayina, Aaron Rowe (Sam Peplow, 46’); Brahima Diarra, Matty Daly, Josh Austerfield (c) (Etienne Camara, 28’); Sorba Thomas (Will McCamley, 46’), Kian Harratt (Kit Elliott, 69’), Micah Obiero
Unused subs
Michael Roxburgh, Nassim Kherbouche
Scorers
Brahima Diarra (9’), Jaheim Headley (57’)
