Eccleston and Diarra goals seal Premier League Cup win!
- Huddersfield Town B Team wins at Watford
- Neo Eccleston and Brahima Diarra score in 2-1 win
- 100% record in the Premier League Cup maintained
The Huddersfield Town B Team made it two wins from two in the Premier League Cup with a 2-1 away win at Watford!
Right back Neo Eccleston gave his side the lead at the interval before striker Tobi Adeyemo levelled for the Hornets in the second 45, only for midfielder Brahima Diarra’s header to seal another three-point haul in the group stages.
With the First Team playing 20 minutes up the road at Luton on the evening, there were several Town fans in attendance at the Orbital Fasteners Stadium, home of Kings Langley FC, for the game, which came after the opening 3-0 group stage win at Middlesbrough.
On a slow pitch, the Young Terriers were made to work hard for the win, but Jon Worthington will be delighted with his side’s resilience and commitment on the afternoon.
Town’s opener came through the first proper attack of the game in the 10th minute.
The move started with a superb cross-field pass from skipper Ben Midgley that found the forward run of left back Shane Maroodza. Shane’s initial headed effort was blocked and as the ball looped into the air towards the back post, right back Eccleston rose highest to head the ball towards goal. The goalkeeper got a hand to Neo’s effort, but the assistant signalled it had crossed the line before Brahima Diarra slammed home the rebound.
Goalkeeper Michael Acquah pulled off a terrific save to keep his side ahead barely five minutes later. Town were expecting a foul to be given as Myles Bright’s shirt was tugged, but Watford played on and striker Tobi Adeyemo played Luigi Gaspar in on goal – only for the goalkeeper to turn his curling effort wide with a superb stop at full stretch to his left.
Town were back on the attack soon after, with Diarra heading a corner wide and Maroodza hitting the side netting from a narrow angle, but the hosts had another big chance in the 25th minute when Adeyemo headed a very presentable chance wide of target when unmarked at the back post from a free kick.
Diarra shot way over after showing great feet to free up space for a shot as play resumed and then Midgley’s wand of a left foot created another great opening as the Mirfield native picked out Bright’s infield run from the right. Myles took the ball down brilliantly behind the Hornets’ defence, but goalkeeper Vincent Angelini did very well to narrow the angle and turn his left-footed shot around the post.
Several fouls from both sides punctuated a scrappy end to the first 45 minutes.
Striker Charles Ondo came to the fore in the second half and headed over a good cross from Maroodza seconds into the second period.
Chances were few and far between early in the half, but Aaron Rowe came close with 20 minutes left. He chased down an opponent excellently to win the ball on halfway before turning and driving at goal before slipping a pass left for Maroodza. Shane found Rowe’s continued run with his return ball into the area, but goalkeeper Angelini made a good stop before bravely smothering the ball as Ondo tried to follow-up.
Watford went up the other end and equalised through a 72nd minute free kick, with Adeyemo cleverly looping a back post header over Acquah from Manning’s excellent delivery.
However, the Young Terriers hit straight back through a set piece of their own with nine minutes left. Substitute Donay O’Brien-Brady was pulled back on the right side, allowing the impressive Midgley to expertly curl the ball towards the back post for Diarra to plant a firm header past the custodian at close range!
Ondo had a big chance to score a fantastic goal in the final minutes when he overpowered the trialist centre back. Although his clever feet beat the goalkeeper, it also gave time for the defender to recover and clear the ball off the line!
He had the final chance of the game too but frustrated himself by heading over Eccleston’s excellent delivery.
Town’s team (4-2-3-1)
Michael Acquah; Neo Eccleston, Loick Ayina, David Adewoju, Shane Maroodza; Brodie Spencer, Ben Midgley (c); Aaron Rowe (Conor Falls, 79’), Brahima Diarra, Myles Bright (Donay O’Brien-Brady, 79’); Charles Ondo
Unused substitutes
Josh Mazfari; Sonny Whittingham, Michael Stone
Goals
Neo Eccleston (10’); Brahima Diarra (82’)
Bookings
Brodie Spencer (20’); Myles Bright (79’)
