Young Terriers defeated by the Millers
- Huddersfield Town U19s 1-3 Rotherham United
- Tom Iorpenda scores the Town goal
- Season now completed for the Under-19s
Town’s Under-19s completed their final fixture of the 2022/23 season on Wednesday morning, with a disappointing second half performance resulting in defeat to Rotherham United.
The Young Terriers could have been ahead after a first 45 minutes full of attacking vigour was it now for visiting goalkeeper Bailey Hamilton, who made several excellent saves.
However, two uncontested second half goals sealed the points for the Millers as Town’s levels dropped.
Top scorer Hazeem Bakre was unlucky not to add to his 16 goals in the opening half, but he was the provider for the game’s first chance in the third minute, supplying Conor Falls. The Northern Ireland Under-19 international got his shot away, but the ‘keeper saved easily.
Hamilton made two great low saves from Bakre and Falls as the half continued – and then helped hit Town with a 26th minute sucker punch. Having saved again from skipper Fope Deru, he launched a long kick into the Town half and a Rotherham man beat goalkeeper Michael Acquah to the ball before placing it into the vacated net for the game’s first goal.
Bakre shot wide twice as Town looked to fight back and then attacking midfielder Cian Philpott was sent clear by the impressive Tom Iorpenda before lifting the ball over the advancing goalkeeper, only to place his effort wide.
However, Town weren’t to be denied and, in the first minute of added time, Iorpenda strode forward from midfield before whipping a shot into the roof of the net from 20 yards out in nonchalant fashion.
Sadly, Rotherham restored their lead in the 52nd minute in very strange circumstances. A long ball over the top looked easy for Acquah to claim, but he slipped when back-peddling, allowing the striker to latch onto the loose ball and tap home.
Hamilton produced another great save to deny midfielder Dan Vost soon after, but then Rotherham extended their lead as the left winger was allowed to advance down the flank by three Town defenders and pulled back for a team mate to score from close range.
Town enjoyed the lion’s share of the ball thereafter, but Rotherham looked very dangerous on the break and should have scored more, with Ben Hatton twice striking the post on counter-attacks.
Town’s team (4-2-3-1)
Michael Acquah; Aidan Mee, Freddie Fletcher, Archie Sheppard, Fope Deru (c); Daniel Vost, Tom Iorpenda (Temi Okuwa, 46’); Aaron Ojungu (Tyree Sanusi, 46’), Cian Philpott, Conor Falls (Stanley Holder, 61’); Hazeem Bakre
Unused substitute
Francis Hurl
Town goal
Tom Iorpenda (45+1’)
Town Bookings
Fope Deru (50’), Tyree Sanusi (90’)
Final score
Huddersfield Town U19s 1-3 Rotherham United
