3/1 To Win
The Derby County Under-18s' seven-game unbeaten run at home ended as they were beaten 2-1 by Wolves at Moor Farm in the Under-18 Premier League North.
Derby retained possession for long periods in the first half but struggled to progress the ball through the lines and create clear-cut chances.
The young Rams' best opportunity of the half fell for Jayde Davidson, who did well to slip past the Wolves backline, beating the offside trap as the ball was played through on goal.
The right-winger could not quite beat the Wolves' keeper Jimmy Storer, who came charging out of his goal to close the angle, so the scores remained level.
That was as good as it got in the first period for the hosts, who had to do a lot of defending and rely on their goalkeeper, Alfie Roberts, to keep the game within reach at half-time.
Wolves skipper Kam Kondola hit the crossbar with a header before Owen Farmer, but the ball on a plate with a well-weighted cross from the right for Josh Esen to coolly convert. Roberts did well to get one hand on the ball but could not entirely divert the shot past the post.
As was the theme of the half, the visitors were happy to concede possession and move quickly in transition to break Derby down, who struggled to find openings with Wolves' low block out of possession.
Roberts was the star of the half for Derby, making a handful of high-level saves to keep his side in the game and give them a chance to turn their fortunes around after the break.
Derby made a bright start to the second half, as Davidson was brought down on the edge of the area to give his side a golden opportunity from a free kick.
Ola Ibrahim stepped up to take it, and his rasping effort forced a fingertip save from Storer, who was well placed to divert the ball over the bar for a corner kick.
Wolves responded to that early opportunity with a chance of their own, which Tyler Roberts converted to double the visitor's lead when played through on goal.
With a two-goal cushion, the visitors were happy to sit back and see out the game, hitting Derby on the counter when possible by quickly playing the ball down the channels.
The young Rams plugged away for an opportunity to get back in the game, with Callum Niven working hard to press from the front and try and force a mistake as the lone striker.
That persistent pressing from Niven crafted an opportunity for Ibrahim. The young forward intercepted a cross-field pass to break and find the bottom-right corner of the Wolves net with a low driven effort from just outside the area.
Ibrahim's goal came with just two minutes left in the fixture; therefore, the Under-18s could not craft another goal-scoring opportunity despite their best efforts, as Wolves held out for the three points at Moor Farm.
Derby County Under-18s: Roberts, Brailsford, Kelly (Moore 61'), Hawkins, Robinson (Christie 71'), Rutt, Davidson, Ibrahim, Niven, Sebagabo, Nicholas-Davies (Dixon 85')
Substitutes Not Used: Price, Fapetu
