Deru and Eccleston score in pre-season win
- Farsley Celtic 1-2 Huddersfield Town B
- Fope Deru and Neo Eccleston score the goals
- A good performance from Jon Worthington’s team
Town’s B Team played their latest non-league opponent in pre-season on Saturday afternoon, defeating Vanarama National League North side Farsley Celtic.
Goals from winger Fope Deru (pictured) and full back Neo Eccleston saw Jon Worthington and George Danaher’s side come from behind at the Citadel to record the win, as many players got more minutes under their belts.
A largely young side was joined by senior colleague Connor Mahoney, who played in the number 10 spot behind striker Charles Ondo.
It was a step up in quality from the recent 4-0 away win over Northern Premier League side Bradford (Park Avenue), but the Young Terriers weren’t fazed and started the game brightly. However, it was the hosts who scored first inside 10 minutes when winger Marley Blair overhit a powerful cross that flew over goalkeeper Jacob Chapman and hit the post before going in.
Chapman dealt with another couple of shots from range as the game got back under way before Ondo was only denied a clear shot at goal from close range by a good last ditch challenge.
Town equalised in the 38th minute with a move that started right back with the Town ‘keeper. Chapman rolled the ball out to skipper Ben Midgley, who broke the lines with a great pass that found Mahoney in space over halfway. Connor waited for left winger Deru to make his run and played the ball inside the full back to send him clear. Fope made no mistake, not taking a touch before slamming the ball between the Farsley goalkeeper and the near post with a powerful drive.
18-year-old Deru was a constant threat on Town’s left and showed his ability again just after half time, cutting inside and unleashing a shot that was deflected just over by a defender.
However, Town weren’t to be denied in a second half they controlled, albeit the second goal was slightly unusual. Right back Eccleston tried to overlap and when Farsley intercepted and played the ball back to their goalkeeper, Neo chased the ball down and blocked the goalkeeper’s clearance, with the ball flying into the net!
Town went close to scoring a third on a few occasions. Centre back Mustapha Olagunju’s downward header from a corner was saved by the ‘keeper before Tom Iorpenda had two shots blocked just wide of target.
Town’s team (4-2-3-1)
Jacob Chapman (Michael Acquah, 74’); Neo Eccleston, Tom Iorpenda, David Adewoju, Julian Gibson (Dylan Helliwell, 83’); Myles Bright, Ben Midgley (c); Cian Philpott, Conor Mahoney (Mustapha Olagunju, 63’), Fope Deru; Charles Ondo
Unused substitute
Omari Mrisho
Goals
Fope Deru (38’), Neo Eccleston (62’)
Booking
Charles Ondo (41’)
