Derby County academy claimed two victories in as many days as they stepped up their pre-season preparations against Gloucester City and Matlock Town.


On both occasions, Darren Wassall fielded a mixture of Under-18s and Under-23s players and six different young Rams found the back of the net.

Cameron Cresswell’s strike and Juavan Splatt’s tap-in secured a 2-0 victory over City while goals from Aaron Eyoma, Louie Sibley, Jack Stretton and Max Hunt diminished Town’s early lead to condemn them to a 4-1 defeat.

On Wednesday night the academy squad travelled to Jubilee Stadium to meet National League South side, Gloucester.

The Tigers appeared to be the more threatening side in the opening 10 minutes. Jake Mawford was inches away from putting the home side up after five minutes but couldn’t reach the end of a cross for an easy head in.

However, the Rams settled and became the more dominant side putting City’s backline on high alert.

After 27 minutes it was Cresswell who broke the deadlock when he slipped through the defence to drive a perfectly placed strike past Andrew Hannah into the bottom right corner.

The 18-year-old forward almost doubled his goal tally and Derby’s lead before the break, stripping the defence of the ball before another low flying shot that, this time, went wide.


The second half showcased a different XI for the Rams, introducing new scholars Stretton, Liam Thompson, Eiran Cashin and Jayden Charles as well as furthering Kyle McAllister’s progress in his return from injury.

With just more than 10 minutes to go, the ball bounced perfectly to Splatt in the centre of the box after a free kick on the edge of the area. His volley blasted straight over the crossbar.

Five minutes later, he got his goal. McAllister laid the ball perfectly to Splatt in the box for an easy finish to seal the win.

The following night the academy travelled to Causeway Lane where they fought back from an early goal by the non-league side.

Kieran Watson put Matlock ahead after five minutes when he fired a cross by Jordan Chappell into the roof of the net.

It didn’t take long for Derby to mount their attack and new signing, Eyoma, struck his first goal in a Derby shirt following his move from Arsenal.

Republic of Ireland youth international, Jason Knight had his cross blocked which then dropped nicely to Eyoma, who’s left-footed strike fired across the goal and into the far corner.

Both keepers were called into action shortly after. Derby’s Max Bird’s long-range effort rattled into the fingers of Richard Walton. It was then over to Matlock with Watson posing a threat again on the end of a cross, but this time Josh Barnes managed to tip his header over.

Eyoma connected with 16-year-old Sibley for the Rams to take the lead just before the break. The dynamic winger found Sibley in the box who quickly spun before firing a pin-point shot from 15-yards.

Similar to the previous night, Wassall made significant changes for the final 45 minutes, four came at the break then a further five after an hour. Stretton was part of the second raft of subs and immediately made his presence known by adding to the Rams’ lead.

Knight’s shot was batted away by the Gladiators’ keeper and fell to the Stretton who’s first touch proved to be lethal.

Five minutes later, Hunt, who arrived at Derby in January from Matlock, tapped in a free kick that was delivered to him at the far post.

The Rams saw out the final 20 minutes with no real danger of a Matlock comeback, to end with a comfortable 4-1 victory.

The Under-23s will be in action for a behind-closed-doors friendly against Aston Villa on Monday before heading to Spain later in the week to face Real Union in an attempt to defend the Steve Bloomer trophy.