3/1 To Win
Rams XI defeat non-league outfit - with striker Theo Robinson notching a treble at Silverlands.
A Derby County XI ran out 4-1 winners at non-league outfit Buxton on Saturday afternoon.
The Rams led 3-1 at the break thanks to goals from striker Theo Robinson (2) and Michael Jacobs against the Evo Stik Premier Division side before Robinson completed his hat-trick with ten minutes to play to round off the scoring, while goalkeeper Saul Deeney also saved a second-half penalty from Buxton’s Mark Reed.
Derby’s starting line-up saw available for transfer quintet Tom Naylor, James O’Connor, Nathan Tyson, James Bailey and Robinson handed the opportunity to get match time under their belts, while first-team squad members Michael Hoganson, Mason Bennett and Jacobs also started for the Rams.
The hosts fielded a side with considerable Football League experience in their line-up, including goalkeeper Andy Warrington (ex-Rotherham United), midfielder Steve Istead (previously with Hartlepool United and Mansfield Town) and midfielder Derek Niven (ex-Chesterfield).
The Rams started strongly and Robinson, from Hoganson’s cross, had two shots blocked inside the opening three minutes and that set the tone for a strong first half display at Silverlands.
Tyson squandered a one-on-one on six minutes after Bailey played him clear on goal, with home goalkeeper Warrington standing tall and blocking his effort before Robinson fired the subsequent rebound high over the crossbar.
Derby did break the deadlock on ten minutes though. Bennett won a free-kick down the left which was whipped into the box by Jacobs, allowing Robinson to head home from six yards out.
Tyson then had two further efforts on goal saved by Warrington before Robinson made it 2-0 on 24 minutes. His fine run into the six-yard box was picked out by Tyson, who crossed low for his team-mate to tap home.
The hosts however responded by pulling a goal back inside two minutes, with their first shot on target, as a low corner to the near post was turned home by Niven past goalkeeper Deeney and a static Rams backline.
It took Derby less than ten minutes to restore their two-goal advantage though as captain Jamie Hanson’s excellent long pass from deep picked out Robinson down the right, and he crossed for Jacobs to turn the ball into the net from a few yards out for his second goal inside a week.
Sam Egerton hit the post for Buxton in the closing seconds of the first half with a neat volley inside the box, with Derby good value for their lead at the turnaround after dominating for long spells.
The second half began as the first half had concluded. Derby saw plenty of the ball and drove forwards at the Buxton defence, but clear-cut chances were limited for both sides.
Bennett and Jacobs replaced just after the hour by first-year Adam Wixted and Andy Dales and soon afterwards Robinson had a golden chance for his hat-trick as he went clear on goal, but he curled his effort wide of the far post.
Buxton had a golden opportunity to pull a goal back with 15 minutes to play after O’Connor bundled Craig King down in the box, but goalkeeper Deeney spared his blushes with a fine penalty stop, diving to his right, to push away Reed’s penalty.
Robinson completed his hat-trick with ten minutes left to play when a sloppy backpass was seized upon by the 2011 signing from Millwall, and he kept his cool to calmly slot past the advancing Warrington from just inside the area.
The next pre-season game for a Derby County XI is next Tuesday (30th July), away to Matlock Town (7:30pm).
Buxton: Warrington, Black, Green (Johnson 77), Istead, Egerton, Ryan, Stevens (Osborne 46), Niven (Heywood 77), Morris (Reed 46), Thornhill, King.
Subs Not Used: Stanway.
Derby County XI: Deeney (Etheridge 80), Naylor, Hoganson, Bailey, O’Connor (Lelan 77), Hanson (Berry 77), Robinson, Dawkins, Tyson, Bennett (Dales 61), Jacobs (Wixted 61).
Subs Not Used: None.
