Huddersfield Town suffered Under 21 Premier League Cup semi-final heartbreak as Hull City won 4-3 on penalties at the John Smith’s Stadium.

Jack Boyle, Rekeil Pyke and Ronan Coughlan put away their spot kicks in the shoot-out, but misses by Duane Holmes, who hit a post, and Regan Booty, who shot over, proved crucial.

It was a cruel way to go out after an entertaining tie watched by 927 failed to produce a goal over 120 minutes.

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Town set up in the same 4-2-3-1 formation championed by first-team coach David Wagner.

The side included centre-back William Boyle, currently on loan at League II York City but available for this competition.

Hull had the edge in a competitive and open first period, with Town’s Lloyd Allinson the busier of the two keepers.

He showed good handling throughout the half and made a brave block from Johan Ter-Horst in the sixth minute, then kept a watching brief as a Jarrod Bowen shot whistled into the side-netting in the 26th.

Bowen then put a 31st-minute effort over the bar, shortly before Lewis O’Brien tested Hull stopper Rory Watson with a neat left-foot curler.

Watson had earlier reacted well to parry a close-range effort by Jake Charles, while a long throw from the impressive Duane Holmes led to a bout of head tennis amongst the Hull defenders.

Allinson made another smart save, this time from Will Annan, early in the second half while Town’s Flo Bojaj had a powerful drive blocked.

Greg Olley was twice off target while Harvey Rodgers headed onto the roof of the net from a corner as the visitors continued to press.

Charles’ firm headed from a Holmes corner was blocked before Town made their first change on 57 minutes, replacing O’Brien with Rekeil Pyke.

Danny Kane’s mis-kick let in Bowen, but Allinson was equal to the attempt, then at the other end, Watson tipped away a swerving cross-cum-shot from Holmes before gathering a 20-yard drive by Bojaj then saving Regan Booty’s well-struck free-kick.

Town were benefiting from Pyke’s power and pace, with Hull under sustained pressure for the first time in the tie, and skipper William Boyle headed just over from a Booty corner.

Booty caused panic with a low cross in the 72nd minute, but Jack Senior couldn’t find the target from a narrow angle, then Pyke had a low shot saved on 88 minutes.

Allinson made another solid save nine minutes into extra time, smothering a Bowen shot with Ben Hinchliffe lurking.

Kane touched another Booty corner over the bar early in the second period of extra time before Allinson pawed away a shot by Dan Batty.

Jack Boyle replaced Bojaj in Town’s third and final change.

Town: Allinson, Hanson, Senior, Booty, W Boyle, Kane, D Holmes, Coughlan, O’Brien (Pyke, 57mins), Bojaj (J Boyle, 119), Charles (Spencer, 100). Subs not used: J Boyle, Schofield, Wilkinson.