Rams secure back-to-back victories in the Under-21 PDL 2 North.

Rams secure back-to-back victories in the Under-21 PDL 2 North.

Derby County's Under-21s rounded off their final fixture of 2012 with a rousing 3-0 victory over Sheffield Wednesday at Moor Farm.
Mason Bennett bundled in Nathan Tyson’s low cross to open the scoring in the 22nd minute, before the provider turned goalscorer, as Tyson fired into the bottom corner four minutes after the restart to double the home side’s lead.
Academy graduate Bennett completed his double, and the scoring for the afternoon when he latched onto Josh Lelan’s through ball and fired low past former Manchester City goalkeeper Nicky Weaver in the 90th minute.
In the opening exchanges, both sides had a chance apiece to take the lead, as in the first 60 seconds, Conor Doyle saw his close-range volley brilliantly kept out by Weaver, whilst at the other end Harry Grant dragged a shot narrowly wide for the visitors.
However, the next chance of the half was to prove significant. Bennett got ahead of his marker to turn Tyson’s fizzed cross beyond the reach of Weaver and hand the Rams a 22nd minute lead.
Before the first 45 minutes were up, Slovenian international Nejc Pecnik almost levelled for the Owls when his deft volley drifted wide of Frank Fielding’s far post, following Grant’s hooked cross.
Wednesday were left to rue Pecnik’s miss, as just four minutes into the second period, Derby doubled their lead. Doyle found time and space on the left-hand side and crossed for Bennett; the 16-year-old forced Weaver into a terrific stop, but fortunately for the home side, Tyson reacted quickest to fire the loose ball into the bottom corner from eight-yards out.
Bennett almost grabbed his second of the game six minutes later when Jamie Hanson’s long diagonal ball sent the youngster clean through on goal, however the striker could only curl over the crossbar from a tight angle.
The Owls did show signs of a comeback in the second half when Marc Peacock crashed a header against the crossbar, before Caolen Lavery sent a half-volley inches over the crossbar – either side of Tyson heading agonisingly wide from substitute Kane Richards’ pinpoint cross.
But the Rams went on to wrap up the points in the 90th minute when Lelan was given the time and space to pick out Bennett inside the penalty area. The forward then drilled the ball into the bottom corner to seal his second goal of the afternoon and Derby’s eighth League victory of the campaign.
Derby County: Fielding; Freeman, Lelan, Hanson, Hoganson; Bennett, Dales (Wixted 64), Dawkins (Richards 75), Davies; Doyle, Tyson (Thomas 87).
Subs Not Used: Morch.

Sheffield Wednesday: Weaver, White, Smith, Grant, Johnson, McKenzie, Pecnik, Corry, Lavery, Fletcher, Hery.

Subs: Kyle, Sawson, Peacock, Hinchliffe, Nyoni.