Young Town side fall to defeat in the first game of the Central League Cup
Huddersfield Town: Joel Coleman, Demeaco Duhaney, Herbert Bockhorn, Mustpha Olagunju, Ramani Edmonds-Green, Reece Brown, Josh Austerfield, Scott High (c), Kit Elliot, Matty Daly, Josh Koroma
Subs: Jacob Chapman, Aaron Rowe, Sam Sharrock-Peplow, Ilounga Pata, Kian Harratt
Shrewsbury Town: Sam Agius, Lewis Redding, Zac Hartley, James Rowland (Ryan Grovsenor 83), Edan Sears, Luke Ward (Elliot Tibbs 80), Ryan Barnett (c), Luke McCormick (Lewis Duberry 83), Archie Elmore (Charlie Caton 70), Jamaine Turner, Medjon Hoxha (Ethan O’Toole 46)
Town travelled to Huddersfield for their first game in the Central League Cup. The visitors fielded an U18s side bolstered by first-teamers James Rowland, Luke McCormick and Ryan Barnett, while the Huddersfield side was made up of older players including Joe Coleman who was on loan with Town’s first team last season.
The conditions were poor with rain and wind hitting the Huddersfield training ground from the start, but both sides were looking to keep the ball down and play out from the back.
Town had a good early chance after Ryan Barnett played a good ball to put Jamaine Turner in on goal, he looked to curl a low shot past Coleman but the keeper got down quickly to tip the ball away.
At the other end Sam Agius was called into action after Daly found the space to fire a shot in but the Town keeper was down smartly to save.
On 15-minutes the ref had an early decision to make after Agius was out quickly to narrow the angle, but he slipped in the conditions and took out Elliot. After taking a moment to assess the situation, ref Ali awarded a free-kick just outside the box and booked the Town keeper.
The game was pretty even in the opening exchanges and when McCormick picked up possession in the middle he looked for options, he played a lovely ball into the run of Archie Gilmore who got in a low shot that was blocked for a Town corner.
Huddersfield were growing into the game but Town were defending well, and from a couple of free-kicks the wall did its job well, blocking the set-pieces. It was the home side though who took the lead on 35-minutes after Brown drove forward and then despatched a shot from the edge of the box that beat Agius to make it 1-0.
It wasn’t long before the homeside added to their lead when minutes later Koroma picked up the ball outside the Town box, he showed good feet to dribble into the area before placing his shot into the far corner for 2-0.
The second half started with a change for Town with Medjon Hoxha coming off to be replaced by Ethan O’Toole.
Town were still creating and with 10-minutes of the half gone Luke McCormick picked the ball up, he drove forward with purpose and got to the edge of the box, he laid the ball off to his right for Barnett but his first time shot zipped over the bar.
Huddersfield added a third goal as their experience started to show, it was a second for Koroma who picked the ball up inside the Town half and drove for goal, he found space and finished well from the edge of the box for 3-0.
Town created another good chance after Barnett found himself in space on the left, he drove in behind the defence and into the box before hitting a shot across Coleman, but it was deflected behind for a corner.
Town did get the goal they deserved after good work from Jamaine Turner saw him win the ball back, he played it to the edge of the box to find McCormick who fired in a low shot that beat Coleman to make it 3-1.
Huddersfield were still in control of the game though and Agius was called into action making a great double save from Elliot and then for Koroma’s effort from close range. Huddersfield stamped their authority back on the game after Koroma’s trickery saw a good cross in to find substitute Harratt who dispatched a powerful header past Agius for 4-1.
Town had chances late on with Barnett hitting a decent effort from the edge of the box just wide, and later on a through ball found Turner in on goal, he knocked it past Coleman but the Terriers keeper recovered to make a save on the line.
As the rain and wind returned Huddersfield grabbed a fifth goal on the stroke of full-time to see the game end 5-1 to the home side.
Full-time: 5-1