B Team defeated away from home
- Aston Villa 3-0 Huddersfield Town B
- All square at half time
- Three second half goals the difference
Huddersfield Town’s Young Terriers were defeated by Aston Villa on Thursday afternoon in a friendly at Aston Villa’s Training Ground, Bodymoor Heath.
A young B Team side took the pitch following their away win in the Central League on Tuesday afternoon against Bolton Wanderers.
Up against a strong Aston Villa side, who currently sit fifth in the Premier League 2 Second Division, the youngsters were strong and worked hard to not concede in the first half, with our defence and Giosue Bellagambi pulling off great performances to deny the Villa forwards the opportunity to score.
Myles Bright linked well with Brodie Spencer to open up the Premier League Academy team, as Bright received the ball in the middle of the pitch and sent it wide to Spencer on the right. The Northern Ireland international carried the ball down the side and crossed it into the box, but this cross was cleared away by a header.
In the opening 15 minutes, Town held the majority of possession and forced Aston Villa to sit deep in their own half as the lads pushed their way forward.
Our defence came back into action as familiar face Kaine Kesler-Hayden sent a cross into the box, but this was once again defended well and cleared.
The Young Lions shot from outside the box as they forced Bellagambi low to get a touch and make the save, Kesler-Hayden went for the rebound from close range but over-hit the ball and it went high over the bar.
Town had a chance as Tom Iorpenda sent a lovely through ball to Bright who shot from outside the box, but the curling shot was too high and went over the bar for an Aston Villa goal kick.
This was closely followed by a great chance for our Young Terriers as Ben Midgley played the ball out to Spencer on the right, who cut back to Kyle Hudlin in the box but this shot took a slight deflection and went out for a corner.
A chance for either side in quick succession saw the ball crossed into the Town box and onto the head of Kesler-Hayden, but this header bounces wide of the goal. At the other end of the pitch, Bright has a shot, which also goes just wide but sends the Aston Villa ‘keeper diving and both sides go into the break goalless.
Our hosts scored their first goal quickly after the start of the second half from the centre of the box, but this didn’t stop our youngsters as Luke Daley carried the ball down the left side with pace and crossed the ball into the box for Hudlin to run onto but the cross was too straight and landed straight in the arms of the ‘keeper.
Aston Villa’s second and third goals came in quick succession in the 78th and 82nd minute of the game to secure the win, although Town would have the final chance of the game.
After a great interception just outside the box by Bright, he regained possession in a dangerous area and passed the ball to Conor Falls, the forward shot first time and it was scooped up by the ‘keeper for the final action of the game.
Town’s Team (3-4-3)
Giosue Bellagambi; Mustapha Olagunju (Ernaldo Krasniqi, 59’), David Adewoju (Michael Stone, 77’), Luke Daley; Brodie Spencer, Tom Iorpenda, Sonny Whittingham (Dan Vost, 59’), Donay O’Brien-Brady (Fope Deru, 73’); Myles Bright, Kyle Hudlin (Conor Falls, 59’), Ben Midgley (c) (Cian Philpott, 62’)
Unused Sub
Michael Roxburgh