High-riding juniors take centre stage
Nov 4 2008 by Mel Booth, Huddersfield Daily Examiner
COACH Graham Mitchell is hoping to build on a cracking victory against Leeds by guiding Town Juniors to FA Youth Cup success against Rochdale tomorrow night (7.00).
The Academy go into the first-round tie at Spotland – where the junior coach is ex-Town midfielder Chris Beech – having toppled Leeds 2-0 on Saturday, but they are coming up against an in-form Lancashire outfit.
Rochdale have won their last four matches 2-1 – the latest against Morecambe on Saturday when Town had a scout watching – to move up to 10th in the Puma Youth Alliance North West Conference table.
It’s a run which has given the home side plenty of momentum for the clash with Town, but Mitchell believes his 20-strong squad – only skipper Spencer Harris is missing because of an ankle injury – have the quality to go through.
“We are having a decent season in the Academy Premier League, where we play all the top-flight sides, and the win against Leeds was just what we wanted ahead of the cup-tie,” said Mitchell.
“The lads are in a difficult league, but it’s a great education for the players to be operating at that level every week and we hold our own and compete very well.
