REPORT: Reserves 0 Huddersfield Town B 1

Finlay Lockett made a welcome return to action as he came off the bench for the Reserves to make his first appearance of the season.

Lockett played the final half-hour of the Central Alliance League fixture at Lostock following his recovery from knee surgery he underwent last June.

The 18-year-old – who has made five first-team appearances for Wanderers – couldn’t prevent a youthful Whites’ line-up losing to an early goal.

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But he made a positive impression and helped spark an attempted fightback which almost brought Wanderers a point from a vastly-improved second half performance.

Huddersfield, whose B team line-up had an edge in seniority over a Wanderers’ side whose only professionals were Lockett and goalkeeper Luke Hutchinson, went in front after just seven minutes.

Connor Shanks was originally flagged offside but the goal was allowed to stand after the last touch came via a Wanderers’ boot before he ran through to slot past Hutchinson.

Wanderers struggled to muster a response but despite being second best limited the Terriers’ chances until early in the second half when Hutchinson kept out a Sam Peplow free-kick and then denied Charles Ondo.

Shanks also struck a post as he went close to a second for the visitors.

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But having stayed in the contest, Wanderers cranked up the pressure late on as they searched for an equaliser.

Lockett – who featured once in League Two and once in the Football League Trophy last season – helped provide an extra spark for Dave Gardiner’s side in a left-sided forward role.

After linking up with Mitch Henry, Lockett sent one delivery across the face of goal.

And then in the last minute, midfielder Matthew Tweedley sent a long-range effort just wide as another fine Hutchinson stop from Donay O’Brien Brady had kept alive hopes of a late leveller.

Wanderers: Hutchinson; Burgess, Halford, Beardsworth, Frimpong, Ahmed, Tweedley, Pettifer (Loureiro 80), Henry, Jones (Lockett 60), Olawumi (Shakespear 70). Substitutes: Litherland, Kamara.

Huddersfield B: Bellagambi; Kherbouche, Adewoju, Ondo; Peplow (Deru, 69’), Whittingham, Midgley, Daley (O’Brien-Brady, 55’); Bright, Obiero (Elliott 80’), Connor Shanks.

Images: Kevin Hayden Photography

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