Town B victorious over Watford
- Young Terriers run out winners at John Smith’s Stadium
- B Team put six past Watford
- Goals from Kian Harratt, Jon Russell (x2), Micah Obiero (x2) and Jaheim Headley
The Young Terriers performed ruthlessly as Huddersfield Town’s B Team thrashed Watford Under-23s 6-0 in the Premier League Cup at the John Smith’s Stadium.
First-half braces from Jon Russell and Micah Obiero, alongside goals from Kian Harratt and Jaheim Headley gave Town an emphatic lead going into the break before the Young Terriers put in a professional display to make it two wins from two in the group stages.
The fixture started with a high tempo, as both sides had chances at either end during the first couple of minutes of the game.
Firstly, Harratt forced Vincent Angelini into a routine save as the forward’s header from Ben Jackson’s corner was held. The Hornets then countered up the field, with JJ McKiernan rolling the ball into the feet of Ryan Cassidy, who curled an effort just wide of the upright.
Town almost handed the away side the lead on seven minutes, as Loick Ayina’s lackadaisical pass was intercepted by Shaq Forde before the winger’s snapshot was held by Nicholas Bilokapic.
That mishap seemed to spur the Young Terriers into life, as the home side netted four goals in a manic 16-minute spell.
Harratt bagged his seventh goal of the campaign as he was on hand to tuck a loose ball at the back post into the bottom corner following an uncleared corner.
Russell then netted a quickfire brace as he found the same bottom corner with two shots from distance before Obiero’s effort deflected off the leg of Andi Janjeva and looped over a hapless Angelini to make it four-nil.
Then, on the half-hour mark, Town added a fifth through Headley, who played a give-and-go pass with Harratt before the wide man rolled the ball under the goalkeeper.
As the half came to a close, the Young Terriers maintained their goal-hungry selves, seeing efforts from Russell and Headley go agonisingly wide before Obiero extended Town’s advantage as he tapped home from Harratt’s saved header.
Town entered the second half with a slower approach; however, Jon Worthington’s side ensured that they did not let their standards slip, as they recycled the ball and retained possession professionally to keep Watford at bay.
The first chance of the period fell to Ayina, but the centre-half, who wrestled away from his marker to meet Jackson’s outswinger, glanced wide in the middle.
10 minutes after the restart, Jimiel Chikukwa managed to prise the ball off the toes of Ayina, but the winger scuffed his shot into the hands of Bilokapic.
On the hour, Headley received the ball on the right where he headed inwards towards the target before the winger rifled high and wide of the far corner.
Harratt then had two opportunities to get his second of the evening, as he stabbed wide at the back post from Jackson’s drilled cross before heading over the target just minutes later.
With 10 minutes remaining, Derek Agyakwa went close to netting a consolation for Watford, but he could only curl wide from an acute angle.
Kit Elliott then returned from an injury picked up in pre-season to make his first appearance of the campaign, as he replaced Harratt on 83 minutes, which was pleasing to see.
Town saw out the remaining minutes to confirm an outstanding victory at the John Smith’s Stadium.
B Team Line-Up (3-4-3)
Nicholas Bilokapic; Loick Ayina, Josh Austerfield, Ben Jackson; Brahima Diarra (David Adewoju, 61’), Etienne Camara, Ben Midgley, Jaheim Headley (Myles Bright, 79’); Micah Obiero, Kian Harratt (Kit Elliott (83’), Jon Russell
Unused Subs
Giosue Bellagambi, Nassim Kherbouche
Town scorers
Kian Harratt (14’), Jon Russell (16’, 18’), Micah Obiero (24’, 47’), Jaheim Headley (45’)
Final Score
Huddersfield Town B Team 6-0 Watford Under-23s
