U21 Match Report: Derby County 2-4 Lincoln City

Goals from Tony Weston and Carlos Richards were not enough for Derby County Under-21s as they suffered a 4-2 defeat at home to Lincoln City in the Central League on Tuesday afternoon.

Jake Buxton’s side stay at the top of the league table despite being handed their first loss in the competition.

Derby came close to taking the lead just eight minutes in, as a flick-on by Ryan Bartley grazed the post.

Lincoln had an opportunity of their own to make it 1-0, as Jovon Makoma took it around Jack Thompson in the penalty area and pulled it back to Jack Moylan, who saw his effort blocked.

Moylan had another chance to break the deadlock as he latched onto an inviting through ball, but his chipped attempt went wayward.

But it was the Rams who did take the lead through striker Weston, who showed his composure as he slotted the ball past Jordan Wright in the Imps net.

The away side nearly hit back instantly through Makoma, but his shot was saved excellently by Thompson.

Just before the interval the goalkeeper made a fantastic free-kick save as he tipped Danny Mandroiu’s strike just over.

Moylan equalised for Lincoln midway through the second half, after he capitalised on a mistake from Thompson outside the 18-yard box.

He doubled his tally when he found himself in behind the Derby back line and applied a coolly-taken finish.

Dylan Duffy made it 3-1 to the visitors with a deflected strike from the edge of the box.

Moylan grabbed his hat-trick a minute later as he fired it into the bottom right inside the penalty area.

The Rams pulled one back late on through substitute Richards as his first-time finish nestled into the back of the net.

Derby will look to bounce back at the Loughborough University Stadium, where they'll face Nottingham Forest on Monday 29th January (kick-off 7pm) in Premier League 2.

Derby County Under-21s: Thompson (GK), Oduroh, Moloney, Hawkins, Bartley (C), Robinson, McAndrew, Fapetu (Richards 55’), Weston (Oguntolu 68’), Wheeldon (Allen 68’), Nto (Perry 73’).

Subs not used: Shattell.

Lincoln City Under-21s: Wright (GK), Nesbitt, Duffy, O’Connor (Fombad 58’) Kamara, Brown, Okwoye (Lopez 73’), Oliver, Makama, Mandroiu (Okoro 58’), Moylan.

Subs not used: Allen, Adamson.