HYDE UNITED 3, HUDDERSFIELD TOWN U23 2
Fans enjoyed a treat on their long-awaited return to Ewen Fields as Hyde United savoured a thrilling pre-season win against Huddersfield Town Under-23s.
In a see-saw encounter, Hyde blew a two-goal lead before clinching victory with a late goal from a trialist central defender.
And Tigers’ manager Dave McGurk admitted he learned from the spell when they conceded two goals in less than three minutes.
“I am happy with every game and what we have got out of it. We weren’t at it for 10-15 minutes in the second half and I identified what went wrong,” he explained.
McGurk added he is looking to bring in several players before the start of the season and will be discussing loan options with various clubs including Town as they have some “talented boys”.
The standout player was French midfielder Brahima Diarra, a player who only recently celebrated his 17th birthday.
Hyde made an electrifying start in which another trialist central defender headed against the bar and Paddy Lane had a shot well saved inside the opening five minutes.
Jack Dyche had another great chance before the deadlock was broken on the stroke of half time when Liam Tongue was tripped in the box and Lane confidently scored from the spot.
Louis Myers was brilliantly denied by Nicholas Bilokapic, 17, an Australian U17 international before turning provider with the cross for Lane to fire home the second.
Town, who looked out for the count, hit back with a devastating two-goal burst between the 59th and 61st minutes.
Pat Jones showed deft footwork to wriggle free before firing high into the roof of the net and that was quickly followed by former Leyton Orient academy player Micah O’Beiro bursting forward from midfield before drilling home a low drive.
Hyde showed character as Chinedu Uche struck an upright before they regained the lead with six minutes left when a trialist centre back headed home Tongue’s corner, though the visitors unsuccessfully claimed Bilokapic was fouled.
- Hyde were permitted a maximum of 300 fans for the game, but the attendance was 220 and well under the limit.