Sat 10 Jan - Posted in Breaking News
Time to read: 2mins
Sean Corry’s late winner helped Derby County Under-18s come from behind to beat Nottingham Forest in the Under-18s Premier League North on Saturday lunchtime.
The Northern Irish winger netted with eight minutes to play, adding to Israel Green’s penalty after Kanye Bradshaw had given Forest the lead inside the opening 20 minutes in West Bridgford.
A month to the day since Bradley Johnson’s side were last in action – a 3-0 FA Youth Cup Third Round win at Cambridge United – the Young Rams didn’t look short of match sharpness as they recorded their fifth away success in their last six.
They did, however, find themselves behind early on at The Nigel Doughty Academy, as Scott Hamilton’s ball found Bradshaw in the box, allowing the Reds’ number 11 to slot home into the bottom left corner of the net.
Derby set about a hunt for a leveller and found one 10 minutes before half-time. Green drew a foul from home centre-back Ethan Broomes, before stepping up himself to fire into the roof of the net from 12 yards.
Riko Robinson and Bradshaw tested Rams’ goalkeeper Cristiano Dzialuk, while Corry had an effort saved in the dying embers of the half, but there was nothing to separate the sides heading into the break.
On the hour mark, a spell of sustained pressure almost saw the Rams take the lead. First, Green came close, before Charlie Smith – who signed his first professional deal earlier this week – fired narrowly wide from the edge of the area.
The match-winning moment came with just eight minutes left of normal time, as Corry’s low drive in at the near post beat Joe Bailey to put Derby ahead.
Forest pushed for a point, with several set-pieces testing with the Young Rams’ fortitude, but they held on to climb to eighth in the North table.
Derby County Under-18s: Dzialuk (GK), K Gordon, Marriott (Thomas 65), Crolla, Canoville (C), Myers, Green, Hodges (Harvey 46), Smith, Ward (Blake 82), Corry.
Unused Substitutes: Rees (GK), K Clarke.
The Under-18s return to action on Saturday 17 January, hosting Sunderland at Moor Farm Training Centre in U18 Premier League North action (1pm kick-off).
