Town victorious in their last pre-season friendly ahead of the Sky Bet Championship season
- Huddersfield Town 1-0 SC Heerenveen
- Kyle Hudlin scored the only goal of the game
- B Team also victorious over SC Heerenveen this afternoon
In their last pre-season friendly before the start of the 2023/24 Sky Bet Championship campaign, Town came away with the win at the John Smith’s Stadium against Dutch side SC Heerenveen as Kyle Hudlin netted the only goal of the game.
Off the bench in the second half, Kyle Hudlin was the only player to get his name on the scoresheet as we beat SC Heerenveen at the John Smith’s Stadium this afternoon.
An early chance for Town in the second minute after Ben Jackson ran past his man on the left and has his cross into the box blocked and put out for a corner. Jackson took the corner himself and found the head of Matty Pearson deep at the far post, but this went high and over the bar.
Town were awarded a free kick after a foul on Josh Ruffels, the left-back managed to keep hold of possession so advantage is played before the free-kick is given.
David Kasumu did brilliantly to win the ball back in his own half and drive it forward to the edge of the SC Heerenveen box, whilst being fouled twice. The first foul was given advantage as he kept hold of possession and ran forward, but the second was awarded a free-kick. The set piece was delivered into the box by Jackson and deflected out for a corner, which found the head of Michał Helik at the far post, but this went over the bar.
Town were then forced into making a change following this as Jack Rudoni replaced Kasumu in the 22nd minute.
The first chance of the afternoon for our visitors came in the 27th minute as Osame Sahraoui aimed his shot for the bottom corner from just outside the box, but Lee Nicholls was straight down and made the save.
Shortly after this attempt, Pearson was shown the yellow card for a late challenge on Sahraoui in midfield.
The last minute of extra time in the first half saw a red card issued to Syb Van Ottele for a last man challenge on Danny Ward as the striker was through on goal and about to take his shot. Andries Noppert then made two great saves to keep the scores level as we headed into half-time.
Our first chance of the second half comes from Rudoni after Brahima Diarra sent him the ball, but after turning the wrong way our new number eight found himself in a position too narrow to shoot, so his cross was blocked.
Second half substitute Kyle Hudlin got his name on the scoresheet and scored the only goal of the game in the 74th minute as Kian Harratt and Ben Jackson combined to square the ball to Hudlin, who was exactly where he needed to be by the goal – he tapped the ball into the back of the net from point blank range.
Harratt was close to doubling the lead for Town after being played on by Josh Ruffels, but the ‘keeper pushed it round the post and out for a corner and the game finished 1-0 to the Terriers.
Town’s Team (4-2-3-1)
Lee Nicholls; Tom Edwards (Brodie Spencer, 79'), Michał Helik, Matty Pearson (Josh Austerfield, 79'), Josh Ruffels; David Kasumu (Jack Rudoni, 22'), Rarmani Edmonds-Green (Loick Ayina, 79'); Sorba Thomas (Kyle Hudlin, 67'), Brahima Diarra (Kian Harratt,67'), Ben Jackson; Danny Ward (Josh Koroma, 67')
Unused Subs
Chris Maxwell, Jaheim Headley
Bookings
Matty Pearson (32’)
Earlier today, our B Team also went up against SC Heerenveen at the Millers Oils High Performance Complex in a game that consisted in two 30-minute halves, with some players from both teams also travelling the short distance to the John Smith’s Stadium to compete in the senior fixture.
Jordan Rhodes, Yuta Nakayama and Chris Maxwell were amongst the starting XI to compete for the B Team at noon today. Goals from Aaron Rowe and Charles Ondo secured the 2-0 win for Town, with one goal being scored per half.
Our first goal from Rowe came as the left wing received the ball inside the box and skilfully slotted the ball past the ‘keeper into the centre of the goal.
Ondo’s goal in the second half was scored in the 51st minute. Rhodes took the ball into the box and round the ‘keeper, who had come off his line and towards the edge of the box, his shot from the narrow angle was blocked but Ondo was there to knock the rebound home and secure the win.
Town’s Team (4-1-2-3)
Chris Maxwell; Brodie Spencer, Loick Ayina, Mustapha Olagunju (David Adewoju, 31’), Yuta Nakayama; Josh Austerfield; Scott High, Ben Midgley (c) (Tom Iorpenda, 31’); Aaron Rowe, Charles Ondo, Jordan Rhodes
Unused Subs
Giosue Bellagambi
