Clinical pre-season victory at Edgeley Park!
- Stockport County 0-4 Huddersfield Town
- Danny Ward, Josh Koroma, Jack Rudoni & Kyle Hudlin score
- More important pre-season minutes in the legs for Town’s players
Town were in the goals in their latest pre-season friendly ahead of the 2023/24 season, netting four in a clinical victory at fancied Sky Bet League Two side Stockport County.
Danny Ward, Josh Koroma, Jack Rudoni and substitute Kyle Hudlin all scored as Neil Warnock’s Terriers put in their best pre-season performance to date just two weeks out from the new Sky Bet Championship campaign.
21 players got important minutes in their legs, with new recruit Chris Maxwell making his debut in Town colours during the final half hour after the senior players had gone three goals up.
Town took the lead through Ward inside the fourth minute with an almost identical goal to the vital one that won the end-of-season game against Sheffield United at the John Smith’s Stadium last season. Having received the ball from Sorba Thomas, Wardy rolled his man onto his favoured left foot on the edge of the box before bending a superb shot around goalkeeper Ben Hinchliffe.
Koroma netted the second just after the half hour, having spurned an opportunity moments earlier. He missed a one-on-one a minute previously, shooting wide after outmuscling defender Kyle Knoyle, but made no mistake with his second, entering the box after Rudoni won a 50-50 and beating the goalkeeper comprehensively to his right.
Our third came just after the hour, and credit was due to referee Andrew Kitchen for allowing an advantage in the build-up when David Kasumu was cleared out. He watched as Koroma’s reverse pass sent Rudoni clear into space, and Jack entered the box before smashing past the goalkeeper’s left side.
On came the substitutes, including another appearance for Yuta Nakayama following his long-term Achilles injury. Our youngsters impressed and arguably crafted the goal of the game to complete the scoring through Hudlin.
The move started with centre back Loick Ayina winning the ball inside the Town area and finding Brahima Diarra with a pass into midfield. The Mali Under-23 international jinked past a midfielder and drove into the Stockport half before playing a perfectly timed through pass behind the centre back for Hudlin to stride onto, where he finished impressively into the bottom corner.
Town looked to come out unscathed at the final whistle and now move onto another week, with Dutch side Heerenveen the next public test at the John Smith’s Stadium on Saturday 29 July.
Town’s team for the first 60 minutes (3-5-2)
Lee Nicholls; Matty Pearson, Michal Helik (c), Josh Ruffels; Sorba Thomas, David Kasumu, Rarmani Edmonds-Green, Jack Rudoni, Jaheim Headley; Danny Ward, Josh Koroma
Town’s team for the final 30 minutes (3-5-2):
Chris Maxwell; Brodie Spencer, Loick Ayina, Yuta Nakayama; Sorba Thomas (c), Scott High, Josh Austerfield, Brahima Diarra; Kyle Hudlin, Kian Harratt
Unused substitute
Jordan Rhodes
Goals
Danny Ward (4’), Josh Koroma (33’), Jack Rudoni (62’), Kyle Hudlin (78’)
