Charles Ondo and Neo Eccleston score in home defeat
- Huddersfield Town B defeated 2-3 in Central League
- Charles Ondo and Neo Eccleston scored to get Town back in the game
- Young Terriers should have scored more
Huddersfield Town’s B Team suffered a home defeat in the Central League on Wednesday afternoon as they lost 2-3 to Bolton Wanderers.
While Bolton Wanderers put out a competitive side that scored two goals in the first half, our Young Terriers put in the hard work to get themselves back in the game and should have scored more with their unwavering effort.
Town started the first half on the front foot as they were awarded a free kick just outside the opposition box in the first five minutes. Captain Ben Midgley took the set piece and crossed the ball into the box, but his efforts were punched away by Bolton ‘keeper Luke Hutchinson.
This was then closely followed by the opening goal of the game from the visitors as Lynford Sackey was played in space in the box and slotted it pas Michael Roxburgh in the seventh minute.
While building momentum from their first goal, Bolton had the chance to double their lead in the 10th minute after Matthew Tweedley shot from inside the box, but his chance just goes wide and past the post.
Our Young Terriers tried to edge back into the game when Shane Maroodza sent a low cross into the box and found Charles Ondo, but as he tried to slot it past the ‘keeper from close range, his first touch was gathered up comfortably.
The youngsters continued to push for their equaliser and were awarded a corner, which was taken by Midgley, and his cross found the head of Neo Eccleston, but his header was off-target and went high over the crossbar.
Our captain once again worked hard to push his team forwards and get the equaliser as he sent a through ball to Ondo, who then drove into the box, but the youngster was adjudged to have drawn a foul in the box and Bolton were awarded the free kick in their area.
Town’s shot-stopper made a great save in the 30th minute to deny Daniel Jones’ close range shot with a quick reaction to jump and push the ball over the bar. Unfortunately, Bolton’s second goal of the game came directly from the subsequent corner in the 32nd minute and the visitors had doubled their lead.
Shortly after Bolton’s second goal, a free kick was awarded to Town on the edge of the opposition box. The set piece was whipped in by Aaron Rowe, but it was defended well and went out for a Town corner – which didn’t amount to anything.
The last action of the first half was another Town corner, where Rowe again crossed the ball into the box, but this also amounted to nothing despite the multiple chances that were blocked by the Bolton defence and Town went into the break behind by two goals.
The second half started brighter for the blue and white youngsters as they found themselves back in the game after three minutes. Ondo finished nicely after marching onto Jon Russell’s ball over the top of the Bolton defence and struck it past Hutchinson and into the bottom corner.
Not wanting to lose their edge in the game, Bolton fancied their chances from range, but David Adewoju reacted well and defended the box to put the ball out for a corner.
Max Conway was found in space for Bolton and took his chance, but his shot went wide and out for a goal kick to Town.
Brilliant play between Eccleston and Donay O’Brien-Brady on the right side was rewarded with a corner. Rowe’s shot from outside the box following the corner was hit high and went over the bar.
Not long after this attempt, Eccleston crossed a lovely ball into the box and found the head of Ondo, but his effort was just wide of the goal as he searched for his equaliser.
Town’s second goal came in the 68th minute, and was a long time coming, as Connor Shanks crossed the ball into the box and found Eccleston in space, who finished it nicely through the middle of the goal.
However, this score line didn’t last as Bolton scored their third four minutes later following a free kick where Lamine Toure was left unmarked, and he headed it past Roxburgh to put his side back in front.
Our Young Terriers were awarded a penalty after Eccleston was pulled back in the box while going for goal. Midgley stepped up to take the penalty, but he hit the crossbar and the chance for Town to go back level was missed.
Two final chances for Town would be the last action of the game as they desperately searched for that third goal, but Russell’s header from close range was palmed away by Hutchinson and substitute Michael Stone’s shot on target was saved by the Bolton shot stopper after he was set up by Ondo on the edge of the box.
This saw the Young Terriers narrowly defeated at home to Bolton Wanderers.
Town’s Team (4-2-3-1)
Michael Roxburgh; Neo Eccleston, Tom Iorpenda, David Adewoju, Shane Maroodza; Jon Russell, Ben Midgley (c), Connor Shanks (Fope Deru, 76’), Donay O’Brien-Brady (Michael Stone, 76’), Aaron Rowe; Charles Ondo
Unused Subs
Josh Mazfari, Loick Ayina
Goal Scorers
Charles Ondo (48’), Neo Eccleston (68’)
