Young Terriers hosted Blackpool at Canalside on Saturday
- New Under-17 group plays a second game inside first two weeks
- Young Terriers learning about life at Huddersfield Town
- Things to work on, alongside promising signs, for George Danaher
Town’s new Under-17 group played their second game just 13 days after setting foot in Canalside for the first time on Saturday, hosting Blackpool at Canalside.
Under the tutelage of coach George Danaher, the new arrivals are still learning the basics of the Club’s style of play but are playing games to try and put their new learnings into action during pre-season.
So far, the emphasis has been on the basics, including the players’ reactions once they lose the ball, and they have understandably found it hard going at times in the first two matches: first Bradford City last weekend, and then Blackpool on Saturday.
However, there have been moments of real promise from individuals too – including against the Seasiders at the weekend.
In cloudy conditions at the weekend, the Tangerines took a two-goal lead with a quickfire double inside 20 minutes, but the Town players kept going and winger Fopefoluwa Deru netted his second in as many games on the half hour mark. The goal capped off a patient passing move, with Town’s players learning to use the goalkeeper to switch play from left to right, ending with left back Ajay Weston’s low driven cross being slammed home by Deru at the back post.
Blackpool took a 3-1 lead right after the restart, but the Young Terriers dug in and showed heart to draw the second half – just as they did with the Bantams last weekend.
A special mention for trialist goalkeeper Michael Acquah, who made several excellent saves on the day and showed good use of the ball with his feet.
The Under-17 group’s proposed friendly against Airbus UK Broughton on Tuesday has sadly been postponed. If they do not find another opponent, they will next be in action on Friday evening with an away fixture at local neighbours Emley.
Town’s team (4-3-3)
Michael Acquah; Ajay Weston, Michael Parker (Luke Billam 75’), Jeremy Stewart, Exauce Baruc; Ben Midgley (c) (Dylan Helliwell, 46’), Hakeem Sandah (Tyree Sanusi, 46’), Tom Iorpenda; Cian Philpott, Joseph Johnson, Fopefoluwa Deru
Unused substitutes
Sam Taylor; Archie Sheppard
Goal
Fopefoluwa Deru (30’)
Final score
Huddersfield Town U17s 1-3 Blackpool
