WANDERERS’ Under-23s stay top of the league thanks to Jack Earing’s late header against Huddersfield Town.

The midfielder converted a fine cross from Liam Morris in the 93rd minute to make it 11 games unbeaten for David Lee and Tony Kelly’s side.

Wanderers had named a youthful line-up with their Premier League opponents counting on experienced heads like Martin Crainie and Dean Whitehead.

It took the in-form Connor Hall just eight minutes to break the deadlock, however, deftly heading home Luca Navarro’s right-wing cross.

Lewis O’Brien went close for the visitors before Luca Colville did put them on level terms, climbing to head home from a corner.

Hall was in the mood to score more and narrowly missed out on getting a telling touch on Jeff King’s cross. The former Sheffield United man, who has 16 goals in his last 13 games, was also twice denied at close range by Town keeper Rory Brown.

Wanderers pushed hard for the winner, King clearing the bar by a matter of inches with a fierce drive from distance. And they got their reward deep into stoppage time at Leyland as Earing put them three points clear of Sheffield Wednesday, who had lost during the afternoon against Nottingham Forest.

Third-placed Forest do have three games in hand on the teams above them in the Professional Development League North and currently trail Wanderers by seven points.

Wanderers go to fifth-placed Hull City next Monday night, whereas Forest are at home to Barnsley on Friday evening.