Under-21s
Two second-half goals from Alex Cover and Lewis Walker saw Derby County clinch their first ever Steve Bloomer Trophy title against Real Union at their Stadium Gal on Tuesday evening.
The match in Northern Spain also proved to be a notable one for Charles Vernam, who made his return from injury as a second half substitute.
Back to the action that unfolded on the pitch and in the early stages of this inaugural meeting, both teams began with clear attacking intent and the visitors looked the most dangerous with Callum Guy almost finding a lead for his side inside five minutes from the edge of the box but Union threw bodies on the line.
On nine minutes, the hosts attempted to hit back and would have taken the lead through Arriaga had it not have been for an inspired save from Josh Barnes at his far post.
Clear cut chances after that came at premium but Darren Wassall’s side were doing more than just holding their own on a pitch with players of vast experience.
It wasn’t until after the break that the deadlock was finally broken, although it came through an unlikely source.
Calum Macdonald provided the delivery, but it was his defensive partner, Cover, who rose highest to score his first goal of the new season from inside the area.
Derby forced their Spanish third tier opponent’s well onto the back foot after that as they sought to edge another goal.
At the other end, they were equally as impressive as solid defending kept Union well at bay – Union were forced to settle for nothing more than long-range shots, which proved to be mere catching practice for Barnes.
On 63 minutes, arguably one Union’s best chances fell to Capelete inside the Rams’ box as he took on a first-time volley, which he sent narrowly wide of Barnes’ far post.
Union only drew confidence from the narrow miss and 12 minutes later an even better opportunity fell the way of Letamendia.
Inside the Rams’ area, the ball was cut back – leaving an open goal but the ball took a bobble and was blasted over the bar.
It was a missed chance that proved to be vital in the end as substitute Walker made an immediate impact from the substitutes bench.
Jayden Mitchell-Lawson did all the hard work by superbly working his way into the area before cutting the ball back to Vernam. The forward followed up and struck an effort towards that goal that hit Walker and deceived the goalkeeper and nestled in the back of the net.
The hosts did finally manage to hit one back on the cusp of full time through Orbegozo, but in the end, it was too little too late as Derby secured their first ever Steve Bloomer Trophy title.
Real Union: Sequeira (Artexte, 13), Aimar (C), Esnaola, Capelete, Hernaez, Letamendia, Gonzalez (Gayoso, 72), Llamas, Arriaga, Orbegozo, Martins
Substitutes not used: Alonso, Galan, Senar, El Haddadi, Juan
Derby County: Barnes, Stabana, Macdonald, Bateman (Karic, 70), Wassall, Cover, Thomas (Mitchell-Lawson, 70), Bird (Vernam, 60), Zanzala (Walker, 70), Guy, Babos (C)
Substitutes not used: Yates
A strong showing from a robust defence meant that any one of the back five could have been picked out as a key player.
Amongst the forward line as well, individuals such as Luke Thomas and Alex Babos looked equally an impressive at the other end of the pitch.
In the end, though, Cover was the player who shone significantly thanks to his assured defending at the back on top of a superb headed goal as well!
Walker’s fine long-range effort on 80 minutes is hard to look past in this fixture.
At a time when Real Union were beginning to pose a serious threat to finding a leveller, the former Ilkeston town man stepped off the substitutes bench to give Darren Wassall’s side a cushion going into the last 10 minutes.
It proved to be the match-winner too and should give him great confidence in the games that lie ahead for the Rams’ Under-23s.
