Sat 30 Jan
Time to read: 3mins
Luke Thomas and Lewis Walker scored their first goals for Derby County’s Under 18s during their 2-2 draw with Newcastle United.
The former broke the deadlock with seven minutes remaining of the first half as his direct corner was spilled by Ben Smith in the Magpies’ goal.
The visitors, though, fought back and scored twice in eight minutes to turn the contest around at the Training Centre in partnership with the University of Derby.
The hosts enjoyed the better of the openings during the first half in Derbyshire, utilising the creativity of their front four.
One of them, Alex Babos shot straight at Smith after driving at the backline, before the forward collected a loose kick from the goalkeeper and threaded a pass to Walker out on the left, who shot well over the crossbar.
Later, Walker was denied after a swift move forward – again from a wayward goal kick – whilst at the other end, Mackenzie Heaney fired wide after controlling Lewis Gibson’s miscued shot following a corner.
Derby continued to have the better of the chances as Thomas, tamely, shot straight at Smith after a long ball forward from Michee Mbuti, as did Alex Samizadeh, the debutant, after showing great pace and power to create an opening.
Ben Pollock, the Captain, saw a scooped first time shot tipped over by Josh Barnes after a ball from the right broke into his path, but the hosts did not have to wait too much longer before they broke the deadlock.
From the right, Thomas assumed control of a corner and delivered a high ball that got caught in the wind and was dropped by Smith and into his own net despite the best efforts of the covering defender.
Either side of half time, Thomas and Walker saw efforts saved by the Newcastle ‘keeper, but the Magpies regrouped to level the scores.
From a deep free kick, the ball fell at the feet of Lowther, who clinically executed his strike across Barnes from a tight angle.
That was the start of a heavy spell of pressure from the visitors, who laid siege on the Derby goal.
Barnes saved a firm header from Lowther from Shane Donaghey’s corner, before Alex Cover, the Rams’ Captain, blocked the follow up on the line, but Newcastle edged in front shortly after.
From a swift break, Kieran Aplin collected possession and delivered a low centre in the Derby area, causing confusion between Barnes and a defender and allowing Thomas the simplest of tap ins.
Derby, though, responded immediately, showing excellent control of the ball and patience to work the ball from back to front, before Walker finished Thomas’ clipped pass across Smith to ensure Derby extended their unbeaten league run to three.
Derby County U18s: Barnes, Edwards, Macdonald, Magno, Mbuti, Cover (C), Bird, Thomas, Walker, Samizadeh, Babos
Substitutes: Davidson-Miller, Yates, Goode, Jakobsen, Carvell
Newcastle United: Smith, Trodd, Gibson, Donaghey, Pollock (C), Bailey, Spooner, Aplin, Johnson, Lowther, Heaney
Substitutes: Kitchen, Harker, Ariauonou, Longstaff, Allen
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