Derby County Under 18s’ 11 game unbeaten run in the Barclays Under 18 Premier League – North came to an end yesterday as they fell to a narrow 1-0 defeat to Manchester United.
Derby County Under 18s’ 11 game unbeaten run in the Barclays Under 18 Premier League – North came to an end yesterday as they fell to a narrow 1-0 defeat to Manchester United.
United forward Oliver Rathbone scored the all-important goal with a long range effort in the dying embers of the game after coming on as a substitute only a minute before.
Prior to his strike, the contest at the Training Centre in partnership with the University of Derby was a cagey one, with Dean Henderson and Eric Behrens both impressing in goal for both sides.
Ahead of the game, goal difference separated the two sides in the league standings and that proved to be the case on the pitch as well in a hard fought affair in Derbyshire.
Darren Wassall’s side came closest to breaking the deadlock in the first half when Offrande Zanzala saw an effort saved by Henderson, before Charles Vernam’s follow up was blocked on the line by a United defender.
The visitors came out better in the first half and created a number of opportunities – notably through Demetri Mitchell sending an overhead kick narrowly wide shortly after the restart.
The young Rams, though, had plenty of chances themselves as the game wore on as Vernam saw two further shots saved by Henderson, whilst Kellan Gordon sent an effort eight yards out over the top of the bar.
With time ticking down, Rathbone came to clinch the game. The forward came on in the 89th minute and a minute later, from just inside the Derby half, he sent a looping half over the head of Behrens and into the back of the net.
The result, the Rams' defeat since the beginnning of October, meant that United moved ahead of Derby in the league standings as the Under 18s season approaches its climax.
Wassall’s side return to action on Tuesday lunchtime when they welcome Stoke City to the Training Centre in partnership with the University of Derby.
Derby County U18s: Behrens, Moulton, Macdonald, Bird, Wassall, Bennett, Gordon, Carvell, Zanzala, Vernam, Babos
Substitutes: Adams, Barnes, Dryden, Stabana, Clennett
Manchester United U18s: Henderson; Reid, Tuanzebe, Williams, Borthwick-Jackson; Riley, Thompson, Redmond, Mitchell; Rashford, Croskery
Substitutes: Byrne, Fosu-Mensah, Gribbin, Rathbone