Under-18sDerby County's Under-18s were knocked out of the FA Youth Cup at the Third Round stage following a narrow 1-0 defeat to Manchester United Under-18s at Old Trafford on Tuesday evening.
A late strike from United substitute Ethan Williams ensured it was the Red Devils that came out on top and progressed to face Swindon Town away from home in the Fourth Round.
Despite the defeat, the Rams can hold their heads up high for their performance and run in the competition this season. They were cheered on at United's famous home ground by owner David Clowes, Head Coach Paul Warne and his first-team coaching staff and other club officials.
The first chance of the evening fell the way of the Rams at United's famous home ground. A high press caused the home side to cough the ball up and it fell to striker Dajaune Brown kindly in the area but he fired just over the bar of Elyh Harrison.
Fellow forward Lennon Wheeldon did well down the left to cut inside soon afterwards before bending one just wide of the post as the young Rams continued their promising start.
United thought they had taken the lead with their first chance of the evening when Ethan Wheatley bent a lovely strike into the bottom corner but the flag was up immediately for offside to deny any celebrations.
Excellent work from Niall McAndrew down the Derby left saw him beat his man before finding Cruz Allen with a lovely cross, but the latter fired just wide.
Down the other end, goalkeeper Jack Thompson was forced into a fine double save as he denied Jayce Fitzgerald twice in quick succession.
Brown was inches away from an opener for Danny Maye's side when his close-range header looked to have squirmed under the arms of Harrison but the United goalkeeper scrambled back onto the ball to stop it from hitting the back of the net.
The home side looked destined to take the lead right before the break when Victor Musa got a powerful shot away from inside the area but were denied by what was an unbelievable save from Thompson.
Things had settled down in terms of chances after the break but Wheeldon nearly set Old Trafford alight on the hour mark when he rattled the crossbar with a superb effort from the edge of the box.
It looked for large parts that the game was destined for extra-time but United found the breakthrough with under 15 minutes remaining and did so in fortunate circumstances.
A shot into the area was initially blocked by Thompson before the rebound deflected kindly into the path of substitute Williams to tap into an empty net.
Owen Eames and McAndrew fired just over as Derby searched for an instant response as the cup tie entered the final 10 minutes.
Goalscorer Williams fired inches wide as the home side looked to seal the tie with the Rams pushing further forward for an equaliser.
It was a valiant effort from Derby, who pushed until the very end, but 1-0 is how it finished and it was United that progressed into the Fourth Round..
Derby County Under-18s: Thompson (GK), Perry (79' Gough), Gill, Hawkins, Banks, Robinson (C), Allen (46' Osong), Eames (79' Osayande), Brown, Wheeldon, Brown.
Substitutes Not Used: Price (GK), Tola, Augstien, Oguntolu.
