Our U18s side booked a place in the EFL Youth Alliance Northern Final after a 2-1 victory at Huddersfield Town in the semi-finals earlier today.

Town made a bright start to the game, Tomlinson saw his shot go past the post after good pressing from Davey, Khouri, and Adlard, and the same combination saw Town win a corner when Smaller hit the bar inside the opening minutes, for Adlard’s rebound to be blocked on the line.

And Town opened the scoring after five minutes when Tomlinson’s individual work saw him being brought down in the box.  He picked himself up and stepped up to dispatch the kick.

Essel was a constant thorn in the side for the Terriers backline, but it was Huddersfield who equalised with a shot from the edge of the box.

The hosts started controlling possession more but the Town midfield and backline were stealing possession and breaking.

Town did win a free-kick when Essel was found, and it was Tomlinson’s inch-perfect cross that found Goundry, who headed past the keeper to make it 2-1 just before the break.

The second half was a similar battle, Town looking more likely to grab another on the break with Huddersfield controlling the possession in midfield areas. However Davey, Bramwell and Khouri stood firm, whilst the backline defended and blocked everything – Smaller and Goundry battling away with some excellent last-ditch tackles from Scott and Blakeley.

Boyes kept a tidy goal area and was only really threatened from distance.

Town were creating,  and Adlard tried sliding through Essel and then Khouri, but the attacks were snuffed out.

Town ended up coming under a lot of pressure in the closing stages but held out to win 2-1 and progress to the Northern Final.

Town are back in league action at the weekend, when they travel to Scunthorpe United.

Town

1. Boyes
2. Scott
3. Blakeley
4. Davey
5. Smaller
6. Goundry
7. Tomlinson
8. Branwell
9. Essel
10. Adlard
11. Khouri

12. Stratton (#10-78)
13. Jacob’s
14. Hodgson (#9-65)
15. Milner
16. Markham