U23s report: Huddersfield Town 3 United 3

Both teams were rigged out in the latest versions of their respective club strips. The Terriers wore their traditional blue and white stripes, while United were, of course, in the famous red shirts with, on this occasion, black shorts.

As feels the norm these days, there was no fans inside the stadium as the game got under way and it was the home side that made the brighter opening to the proceedings.

In just the second minute it was only a terrific save by Reds goalkeeper Jacob Carney that prevented the recently-signed striker Danny Ward from claiming an early goal. And Carney proved he was alert again just a few minutes later to stop a long-range stinger from Bacuna.

Town were certainly looking the more likely side to put the first goal of the game on the scoreboard but, in the 15th minute, United were to sneak into the lead after Mark Helm had capitalised on an uncharacteristic error by Huddersfield’s hugely experienced goalkeeper Ben Hamer.

If United’s first goal was a trifle fortuitous then the second, which arrived three minutes later, was a peach. Defender Di’Shon Bernard set the up the chance with a brilliant through-ball, which Elanga collected before finding the net with an arrowing shot, after shaking off the attention of two defenders.