Huddersfield Town U21s play-off final comeback win hailed after ‘unbelievable second half’

The young Terriers trailed twice at Norwich City, but struck three goals in the closing minutes

Huddersfield Town under-21s coach Michael Tonge hailed an “unbelievable second half” from his side following their remarkable 4-2 comeback win in the Professional Development League play-off final against Norwich City under-21s.

The young Terriers trailed twice at Carrow Road on Friday evening, but struck three goals in the closing minutes to round off their season with victory in the play-offs.

Jay Sway had levelled for Town shortly after half-time, before Jamie Spencer equalised again in the 86th minute. George Sebine then put the Terriers in front in the 90th minute, and Sway sealed the victory deep into stoppage time from the spot.

Following his side’s success, Tonge told HTTV: “Unbelievable second half. I said to the lads at half-time ‘we’re very much in the game’, and I could sense it, and to come back from a goal down twice, and go on to win the game just speaks volumes about the lads.

“It’s what they’ve done all season, and that’s why you’ve got the belief at half-time, because we’ve done it before – not once, not twice, numerous occasions.

“I’m just so happy, so proud and delighted for the lads, but the staff, not just the under-21s staff, everyone, the under-18s staff, everyone else, Jon (Worthington), they deserve it, because everyone’s put so much work into it, and it’s really nice.

“Norwich, they’re a decent side, as Everton are a decent side in the last round. They’re good on the ball and they try and play through, and there’s moments in the game where they’re going to have the ball. There was a point in the first half where we just had to hang on in there, and make sure it only just stayed at 1-0, reset the lads. I think once we worked out what they were doing and we got set, and dealt with their shape, we went from strength to strength.

“I didn’t think they really created any guilt-edged chances. Obviously they scored from a corner, the first one, and the second one it was almost a little bit transitional, and it ends up ricocheting through, and I think it flicks off someone, so it was frustrating in that sense, because I’m thinking ‘you’ve not really opened us up, and we’re behind in the game’, but the resilience the lads showed was fantastic.”

The young Terriers started their PDL campaign with six defeats in seven matches, but turned their season around with 14 wins in the following 21 games to claim a play-off spot with a sixth-placed finish.

Town have since gone on to beat Reading, Bournemouth, Everton and Norwich to win the play-offs, and Tonge added: “I think it’s obviously been really positive (the season).

“Early on in the season, we had to adjust, and it was tough, and I thank Jon for that, because even though we were losing games, there was no pressure, there was nothing around that, just support, for myself and the other staff who were around it.

“We stuck together, and that’s what you’ve got to do. Everyone’s on the same page, and I think it just shows the strength of character with the players but also the staff.

“There’s been a lot of improvement with the academy, but with individual players, I’ve seen it this season. Not just with the 21s who’ve developed – the likes of Dan Vost, Jay, who started the season with the first team, as did Cam (Ashia) and he’s stayed with them, George Sebine going into it – but there’s other players who’ve really touched it as well, and played in the Vertu (Trophy), and the under-18s who’ve come towards the end of the season.

“It’s been a real collective effort, and if you don’t have those under-18s who can step up, then you’re going to struggle, but we have, and they’ve really come on from playing in the 21s games as well. All round, for the 18s, for the 21s and the academy, it’s been a fantastic season.”