Young Terriers win at Canalside
- Town’s U19s ran out winners against Fleetwood Town
- First minutes back from injury for Danny Grant
- Goals from Kit Elliott and Brahima Diarra (x2)
Huddersfield Town Under-19s comfortably beat a Fleetwood Town XI 3-1 at Canalside on Wednesday afternoon.
Striker Kit Elliott opened the scoring for Town in the first half, before Brahima Diarra added bagged a second half brace to secure the win.
The game also saw Danny Grant play his first 35 minutes since returning from a hamstring injury.
The Young Terriers started the game brightly, retaining possession and building from the back in the early stages. However, it was Fleetwood who had the first sniff at goal, an edge of the box shot directed down the throat of an untroubled Giosue Bellagambi.
Ernaldo Krasniqi opened up the Fleetwood defence in the 18th minute by floating the ball to Danny Grant at the far post. Grant's looping header was claimed by the 'keeper who had to scramble back to claim the shot on the goal line.
Town's patient start was rewarded in the 23rd minute as the hosts struck on the counterattack. Diarra's defence splitting through ball played Elliott through on goal with the 'keeper, who managed to get a shoulder to Elliott's effort before it crossed the line via the crossbar.
Just minutes later, Sam Peplow came close to doubling the host’s lead through his trademark move of cutting in from the right and striking the ball with his left instep. This time however, his effort was well handled by the Fleetwood 'keeper.
Despite falling behind, Fleetwood began the second half brightly as Town were forced to rely on some last gasp defending to retain their lead.
Fleetwood were able to find a way through the Terriers’ resilient defence to level the scores in the 59th minute. Fleetwood's winger showed clever feet to find space down the left before dragging a cross to the edge of the box. The ball was then struck first time into the far-left side of the goal to beat Bellagambi.
Town responded instantly with Elliott driving through the midfield to fire a powerful shot straight at the 'keeper.
Fleetwood were presented a dangerous opportunity to take the lead when they were given a freekick. The visitor’s taker did well to get the ball over a towering wall, consisting of Krasniqi and Kherbouche, to force Bellagambi into a low save.
Bellagambi's save would prove important moments later as Town regained their lead in the 71st minute. Midfielder Brahima Diarra found space outside the box to send a driven shot into the bottom right corner.
Fleetwood's once against responded well to falling behind as they chased an equalising goal. That goal was almost found in the 76th minute as their left winger danced inside to curl a right footed shot onto the crossbar.
However, a moment of brilliance from Diarra in the 83rd minute soon stopped Fleetwood’s charge in its tracks. The young Frenchman showed his excellent technical ability as he broke his way through the entire Fleetwood defence before performing a Cyruff turn in the box to turn his man and finish it off by firing a powerful shot past the helpless 'keeper to bag his brace.
Diarra's strike wrapped up the 3-1 victory as the Under-19s recorded another impressive win at Canalside.
Huddersfield Town Under-19s Team (3-4-3)
Giosue Bellagambi; Loick Ayina, Ernaldo Krasniqi, Ilounga Pata; Luke Daley (Jaheim Headley, 66’), Brahima Diarra, Etienne Camara (Nassim Kherbouche, 60’), Brodie Spencer; Danny Grant (Will McCamley, 35’), Kit Elliott, Sam Peplow
Unused Sub
Nicholas Bilokapic
Scorers
Kit Elliott (23’), Brahima Diarra (71’, 83’)
Final Score
Huddersfield Town Under-19s 3-1 Fleetwood Town
