Victory in latest EFL Youth Alliance fixture
- Huddersfield Town Under-19s 3-1 Rotherham United
- Goals from Hazeem Bakre, Somtobenna Chukwugbo & Michael Stone
- Young Terriers showcase goal threat in their latest game
The Huddersfield Town Under-19 side showcased their goal threat in their 3-1 EFL Youth Alliance victory over Rotherham United on Wednesday afternoon.
In a remarkably open game, Michael Tonge and Oran Thompson’s side could have scored more than the three goals they got against their South Yorkshire opponents at the Millers Oils High Performance Complex.
In the end, first half goals from top scorer Hazeem Bakre (pictured above) and trialist Somtobenna Chukwugbo, as well as a late Michael Stone strike, were enough to seal all three league points.
The game started with two chances for the visiting side, who were led by former Town defender Joe Skarz, but first goalkeeper Francis Hurl and then centre back Michael Parker made important stops on the line to keep the scores level.
Instead, Town converted their first chance of the game in clinical fashion. Having defended a ninth minute corner, the ball was cleared into the path of Bakre on halfway, who outstripped two defenders for pace to get to the edge of the Rotherham area before comprehensively placing his left-footed shot past the goalkeeper.
Bakre had another goal ruled out for offside soon after following good work from winger Tyree Sanusi, but the Young Terriers didn’t have to wait long for their second through Under-16 trialist Chukwugbo. Sanusi found Bakre with a pass down the left channel and the striker turned provider, squaring the ball for the winger to fire home at close range.
It looked like that might open the floodgates, but credit to the visitors; they fought back with their own goal in the 22nd minute, with a player converting after Hurl initially saved a header from a wide free kick.
Although the game slowed down thereafter, both sides had efforts at goal and could have scored more before midfielder Stone’s 90th minute effort. In the end, he sealed it in expert fashion – sending a free kick from mere inches outside the area, awarded for a trip on substitute Fope Deru, arrowing into the top corner.
Town’s team (4-2-3-1)
Francis Hurl; Joseph Johnson, Archie Sheppard (c) (Freddie Fletcher, 61’), Michael Parker, Ajay Weston (Dylan Helliwell, 69’); Michael Stone, Temi Okuwa (Cole Hyde, 61’); Somtobenna Chukwugbo, Hakeem Sandah, Tyree Sanusi (Fope Deru, 61’); Hazeem Bakre
Unused substitute
Alexander Walpole
Town goals
Hazeem Bakre (9’), Somtobenna Chukwugbo (18’), Michael Stone (90’)
