Another win in the Central League Cup for the Young Terriers
- Huddersfield Town B 2-1 Salford City
- A second win in the Central League Cup competition
- Goals from Tom Iorpenda & trialist DJ Sturridge
The Huddersfield Town B Team moved back to the top of their Central League Cup qualifying group courtesy of a 2-1 win over Salford City at the Millers Oils High Performance Complex on Wednesday afternoon.
Jon Worthington’s young side defeated the visitors thanks to a goal in each half, scored by teenage midfielder Tom Iorpenda and trialist striker DJ Sturridge.
It was our third game in the competition following a home win over Rotherham United and a 3-3 draw at Bolton Wanderers last week, and today’s victory puts Town top of the table – the only position that would see us reach the knockout stages.
The Young Terriers made a good start, but did survive a penalty claim when captain Ben Midgley and an opponent appeared to be grappling at the back post from a Salford corner.
Regardless, the momentum was capitalised upon in impressive fashion by reigning Academy Player of the Year Iorpenda in the 14th minute. Having seized upon a pass out of Salford’s defence, he stepped past a man and dribbled forward to just over 20 yards out, where he drove a powerful low effort beyond goalkeeper Joe Wright and into the bottom right corner.
The visitors fought back to equalise in the 26th minute from the penalty spot.
A quickly taken throw-in down our left saw 6’ 7” tall striker Marcus Dackers get behind defender Luke Daley, and the referee judged that the Town defender kicked the foot of his opponent as he tried to volley the ball goalwards. Daley was adamant he was the one that won the ball and was fouled, but the official was unmoved.
Dackers picked himself up to convert the spot-kick, beating 18-year-old Francis Hurl despite our custodian diving the right way.
Away winger Junior Luamba headed way wide from a corner as play got back under way when he should have done better before a chance apiece at either end as the half came to an end.
First Hurl reacted well to keep out a cross that was significantly deflected towards his near post, and from that piece of defending Town broke away. Sturridge found his strike partner Hazeem Bakre with a pass and the Under-19 man ran clear but couldn’t beat the goalkeeper from a narrowing angle.
Worthington changed the shape of his side at the midpoint of the second half and it soon paid dividends, with his team putting together a great move to secure all three points. Midfielder Cian Philpott played a defence-splitting pass between the centre back and full back for our right back, Omari Mrisho, to race onto. He pulled the ball back into the danger zone from the dead ball line, where Sturridge strode onto it and beat the goalkeeper from close range.
That makes it three goals in two B Team games for the former Aston Villa forward.
Sturridge almost had a quickfire second when play restarted when he was picked out by a wonderful early cross from Iorpenda, but his unorthodox effort with his thigh was tipped over well by Wright.
Salford’s best effort in the final 15 minutes fell to Sandro Da Costa, but his first shot was blocked by the excellent David Adewoju before Hurl pushed the rebound away.
Town’s team (3-4-1-2)
Francis Hurl; Omari Mrisho, David Adewoju, Luke Daley; Michael Stone (Stephan Padrao, 58’), Tom Iorpenda, Ben Midgley (c), Charles Ondo; Cian Philpott; DJ Sturridge, Hazeem Bakre (Myles Bright, 72’)
Unused substitutes
Alex Walpole; Archie Sheppard, Dylan Helliwell
Goals
Tom Iorpenda (14’), DJ Sturridge (67’)
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