Huddersfield Town B open Central League win with big home win over Lincoln City
- Huddersfield Town B 4-0 Lincoln City
- Goals from Josh Austerfield, Ben Jackson and Yuta Nakayama (2)
- Experienced B Team utilised by Jon Worthington
With an experienced B Team to call on, we opened our Central League campaign with a convincing win, scoring four unanswered goals at the Millers Oils High Performance Complex.
Overseen by Jon Worthington and assisted by George Danaher with Neil Warnock and Ronnie Jepson in attendance, the side featured all of Town’s substitutes from the weekend’s draw away at Middlesbrough.
Town controlled the game from the off, with Ben Jackson the victim of an early foul as Lincoln did their best to impress themselves on proceedings. Despite that, it was the away side with the games first real effort on goal, with Harrison Day shooting wide across the face of Chris Maxwell’s goal just before the 10 minute mark.
Responding almost immediately, the Terriers went up the other end of the pitch and scored through Josh Austerfield two minutes later. Latching onto a loose ball following a blocked cross from Pat Jones, the midfielder calmy slotted the ball into the bottom left hand corner with his left boot.
Going up a gear following the opening goal, Jackson and Jones on each wing took it in turns to cause Lincoln problems in the final third, with Nakayama releasing Jones to earn a corner moments after Jackson had seen a cross of his own blocked to win our first of the game.
Having just put in two brilliant crosses with either foot, Jackson showed his shooting prowess from the dead ball for our second, curling home a free-kick from just outside the box with his left boot, giving the goalkeeper no chance.
It was a dominant remainder of the half for the Terriers with Scott High going close before Pat Jones cracked one against the post. Perhaps the best chance of the half that wasn’t taken fell to the usually deadly Kyle Hudlin, who placed a shot over the bar after a great ball through from High.
Pat Jones made way for Aaron Rowe at the break, but the flow of the game didn’t chance with Scott High having the first effort of the second half before Kian Harratt made space on the edge of the box to shoot left footed, seeing his strike clear the bar despite catching it well.
This then was the signal for Yuta Nakayama to steal the show, with the Japanese international scoring his first at the far post, tucking in an excellent cross from Scott High from close range.
With a comfortable lead established, Kyle Hudlin headed wide from a corner shortly before Kieran Phillips was introduced for Kian Harratt, and Lincoln once again showed their frustration by, for the second or third time, putting in an extremely heavy challenge on Yuta Nakayama who soldiered on admirably.
Austerfield made way for Charles Ondo shortly after the hour mark, and a few moments later Yuta Nakayama put the cherry on the cake of his scene stealing performance. Striking a bouncing ball on the half volley first time with his left boot following a cross, the Japanese international saw the ball explode off his foot and into the top corner, giving the goalkeeper no chance.
Nakayama was taken off alongside Jaheim Headley soon after for David Adewoju and Luke Daley, with Town’s final chances coming through an Adewoju header from a corner before Kieran Phillips nodded against the crossbar in an effort of his own, leading to the goalkeeper making a good reaction save from Kyle Hudlin on the follow up.
With plenty of meaningful minutes and good performances under their belt, the referee called time with little added time and Town earned a convincing first win in the Central League.
Town B (4-4-2)
Chris Maxwell; Brodie Spencer, Rarmarni Edmonds-Green, Yuta Nakayama (’70 David Adewoju), Jaheim Headley (’70 Luke Daley); Ben Jackson, Scott High, Josh Austerfield (’64 Charles Ondo), Pat Jones (’45 Aaron Rowe); Kian Harratt (’57 Kieran Phillips), Kyle Hudlin
Goals
Josh Austerfield, Ben Jackson, Yuta Nakayama (2)
