Derby beaten in Bass Charity Vase

Burton Albion retained the Bass Charity Vase for the fourth year in a row, beating a young Derby County side at the Pirelli Stadium.

A first half penalty from Brewers striker Shaun Harrad was enough to win the contest and the trophy for the home side.

More importantly for Nigel Clough though was some much needed game time for some of his senior stars, most notably Kris Commons, who got fifty-five minutes of play under his belt.

For Commons it was his first start of pre season, having struggled with a tight hamstring, as Nigel Clough also named three trialists in the starting eleven.

Cambridge City's Scott Neilson, who also played against Torquay, Berwick Rangers Fraser McLaren and Mark Grocutt, formerly of Stoke City.

Saul Deeney started in goal, with Jordan Stewart and Giles Barnes the two other first team pros in the line-up.

The game kicked off under a glorious blue Staffordshire sky, with the sun making a rare appearance as well.

The early action saw Rams past and present collide, with former star Marc Edworthy, starting at right back for the Brewers, marking Kris Commons.

Commons got the better of his more senior foe in the opening ten minutes, delivering some dangerous crosses, which keeper Ross Atkins, on trial from Derby with a view to a loan move, collecting well on each occasion.

The Commons/Edworthy battle was the most fascinating aspect of the first twenty minutes. Edworthy, a popular figure at Pride Park, was strong opponent for the Scottish international, who is trying to get back to match fitness following a frustrating pre season with a tight hamstring.

GOAL: Burton Albion 1-0 Derby County, Shaun Harrad, penalty 15 minutes

The home side took the lead with just a quarter of an hour gone and it came from the penalty spot.

Young Rams defender Jamaine Johnson was adjudged to have fouled Marc Goodfellow.

Shaun Harrad made no mistake with the spot kick, smashing it down the middle of the goal into the back of the net; a comprehensive penalty giving Saul Deeney no chance.

Giles Barnes and Jordan Stewart worked hard, offering some important experience to the younger players.

Arnaud Mendy did as much as anyone to get the Rams back on level terms.

Derby's best chance of the game came with twenty-two minutes on the clock, from a Kris Commons free kick, which he won himself.

Thirty yards out and dead central, Commons whipped the ball over the wall, smashing the inside of Ross Atkins post.

A super set-piece, from which the impressive Atkins could do nothing but watch and pray; on this occasion his and Burton's prayers were answered.

The Rams pressed again with half an hour gone; trialist Mark Grocutt coming deep to collect the ball, before combining with Commons. Atkins saved comfortably.

Burton had several chances before the break to double their lead, but a mixture of Deeney and good fortune kept them at bay. Goal scorer Shaun Harrad proving a real handful for the Rams back four, finding space in behind them on a number of occasions.

Half time: Burton Albion 1-0 Derby County

Derby made a flying start to the second half, with Giles Barnes firing in a fierce effort from the right side of the Brewers penalty area.

Ross Atkins showed strong hands to turn the ball behind the post for a corner.

The Rams came close again from the resulting pressure, Arnaud Mendy reacting quickest to smash an effort towards goal, but it drifted just wise.

A lively start to the second period was almost capped with a goal; again Barnes showing a positive attitude to drive Derby forward from central midfield, however, trialist Fraser McLaren was awarded offside as he turned the ball into the back of the Burton net on fifty-two minutes.

Kris Commons evening came to an end after fifty-five minutes, replaced by Greg Mills. It was a useful run out for Kris Commons, who will now look to intensify his fitness schedule ahead of the big kick off on Saturday August 8th at Pride Park.

With an hour gone Nigel Clough's side were now firmly in control of the game, however, Burton had a golden chance on the counter attack to double their lead.

With exactly sixty minutes on the scoreboard Burton winger Jimmy Philips centre a perfect cross, which Richard Walker inexplicably side footed wide from four yards out.

Derby made further changes with sixty-three minutes gone, with Alek Prijovic coming on in place of Fraser McLaren.

Prijovic had netted on four occasions previously during the warm up campaign, against Arnold Town, Belper and Matlock.

The Serbian forward was quick to make an impact, creating a number of chances for himself, but unable to put the visitors on the scoreboard.

Derby's third substitution came with just under a quarter of an hour of the game to go; Jordan Stewart, who had again equipped himself well, being replaced by young right back Alex Forde. The change saw Jason Beardsley switch from right to left back, with Forde occupying his most common position.

And the Rams made their final outfield change soon after; Henrik Ojamaa coming on for Mitch Hanson. Ojamaa, like Prijovic, has shown some goal scoring form during the pre season matches.

Derby went with three strikers for the final stages of the game, as they went in search of an equaliser that would have taken the cup contest straight to penalties.

But Burton remained resilient and the Rams were unable to find a way past Ross Atkins. The performance of young Atkins, a young professional at Derby, was a big positive for both clubs' on the evening.

Late on in the match came one of the more bizarre sights of the pre season campaign. Substitute keeper Roy Carroll was used as a replacement outfield player, with Giles Barnes needing to come off. Carroll was used as a makeshift striker.

Burton Albion retained the Bass Charity Vase.

Full Time: Burton Albion 1-0 Derby County

Derby County starting XI:

DEENEY
BEARDSLEY
STEWART
JOHNSON
HANSON
BARNES
COMMONS
MENDY
NEILSON
McLAREN
GROCUTT

Subs:

CARROLL (on for Giles Barnes, 83 minutes)
MILLS (on for Kris Commons, 55 minutes)
PRIJOVIC (on for Fraser McLaren, 63 minutes)
OJAMAA (on for Mitch Hanson, 75 minutes)
FORDE (on for Jordan Stewart, 72 minutes)