Prijovic bags late winner for young Derby side

Serbian striker Alex Prijovic scored just ten minutes from time to settle a hugely entertaining contest at Causeway Lane against Matlock Town.

Academy star Arnaud Mendy and youngster Greg Mills bagged the other two goals for the Rams in the first half.

Derby led 2-1 at the break courtesy of the two strikes, with a Matlock equalizer sandwiched inbetween.

Matlocks second equalizer came just ten minutes after the break and appeared to be enough to give them a share of the spoils before Prijovic denied them.

GOAL: Matlock Town 0-1 Derby County, Arnaud Mendy 14 minutes

Mendy, playing centre midfield alongside Ben Pringle, scored after fourteen minutes, capitalizing on Luke Varney shot which bounced back off the post.

GOAL: Matlock Town 1-1 Derby County, Nathan Benger 28 minutes

Matlock equalized after twenty-eight minutes, with Danny Davidson playing in Nathan Benger, who calmly slotted past Roy Carroll.

GOAL: Matlock Town 1-2 Derby County, Greg Mills 34 minutes

Mills then restored the Rams advantage on thirty-four minutes, finishing off a purposeful run down the right flank, before beating the keeper at the near post from a tight angle.

Senior pros Roy Carroll, Martin Albrechtsen, Jordan Stewart, Jake Buxton, Ben Pringle and Luke Varney all started the contest.

Luke Varney, Alek Prijovic and Greg Mills all had excellent chances to extend the lead but were prevented by a combination of determined defending from the Gladiators and good keeping from Paul Pettinger.

Half Time: Matlock Town 1-2 Derby County

No changes from Derby County at half time, keeping the same eleven that started the game.

GOAL: Matlock Town 2-2 Derby County, Nathan Benger 55 minutes

Matlock Town equalized early in the second half, with Nathan Benger scoring his second of the night from close range.

Varney and Prijovic continued to persevere for the Rams up front, ably supported by Ben Pringle and Arnaud Mendy.

Luke Varney's night came to an end on sixty-seven minutes, with Henrik Ojamaa given a chance to fire Derby back into the lead.

Matlock proved resilient opposition and continued to push forward and test the Rams defence.

Jordan Stewart was exceptional at left back, Jason Beardsley impressive on the right wing.

Jake Buxton was replaced by Mark Dudley on seventy-one minutes, a move that saw Jordan Stewart switch to centre half.

Jason Beardsley created a great chance for himself, cutting in from his right wing position and curling a wonderful left footed effort just wide.

Academy player Graham Kelly was given a chance to impress after being introduced to the action with fifteen minutes to go, taking Ben Pringle's place.

Alex Prijovic came agonizingly close to giving Derby a victory, with two great efforts within a minute, but was denied both times.

GOAL: Matlock Town 2-3 Derby County, Alex Prijovic 80 minutes

But Prijovic was not to be denied and bagged on eighty minutes to put the Rams 3-2 up. The young Serbian was quickest to react to a long ball from Jermaine Johnson and lobbed the Matlock keeper.

Matlock pressed for a third equalizer, but Roy Carroll was not to be beaten again.

FULL TIME: Matlock Town 2-3 Derby County XI

Matlock Town Vs Derby County XI
Causeway Lane
Monday July 27th, kick off 7.45pm

Rams starting XI to face Matlock this evening:

CARROLL
ALBRECHTSEN
JOHNSON
STEWART
BUXTON
MENDY
BEARDSLEY
VARNEY
PRINGLE
PRIJOVIC
MILLS

Subs:

DEENEY
DUDLEY (on for Jake Buxton, 71 minutes)
GARTON (on for Alex Prijovic, 81 minutes)
OJAMAA (on for Luke Varney, 67 minutes)
KELLY (on for Ben Pringle, 75 minutes)