Jack Boyle stepped off the bench to fire Huddersfield Town’s development team to an 11th straight win and into the second round of the Under 21 Premier League Cup.

Defender Joe Wilkinson was the other scorer as Frankie Bunn’s charges came from behind to beat Middlesbrough 2-1 in front of a 202 crowd at the John Smith’s Stadium.

A visit to Chelsea or Southampton awaits Town, who grabbed their goals in a five-minute spell after Harrison Chapman put Boro ahead in the 66th minute.

It was skipper Wilkinson’s loss of possession close to the halfway line which allowed Chapman to break forward, evade Danny Kane’s attempted tackle and finish with confidence.

Huddersfield Town U21's v Middlesbrough U21's.

Boro came close to a second soon after, with Chapman putting in a cross which fellow midfielder Bryn Morris glanced just wide.

As coach Bunn admitted, the home team failed to sparkle, and a heavy-looking pitch seemed to be taking its toll – until the equaliser.

Boro keeper Luke Coddington, the grandson of former Town centre-half John Coddington, did well to divert substitute Ben Holmes rising drive for a 76th-minute corner.

But a well-worked flag-kick routine allowed Wilkinson to atone for his earlier lapse by powering in a header which took a deflection on its way into the net.

Spirits were lifted and from Holmes’ pass, Flo Bojaj broke down the left to deliver a cross which midfielder Boyle hit home sweetly on the half-volley.

Town had the better of the first half with Bojaj having the best of their chances, one saved and another from Ronan Coughlan’s cross bundled narrowly wide of an inviting goal.

Huddersfield Town U21's v Middlesbrough U21's.

The lively Duane Holmes also came close with a low drive which was saved by Coddington after the midfielder’s free-kick came back off the Boro wall.

“We have played better, and we didn’t get our passing game going as much as I would have liked, but we showed character to win this one,” said Bunn.

Professional Development League II North leaders Town are back in league action at home to Barnsley on Monday, December 21.

Town: Allinson, Hanson, Senior, Booty, Wilkinson, Kane, D Holmes, Tronstad (B Holmes, 73mins), Bojaj, Pyke (Boyle, 70mins), Coughlan. Subs not used: Charlton, Spencer, Ryan.