Fri 24 Apr - Posted in Breaking News
Time to read: 3mins
Derby County Under-18s suffered a narrow defeat to Burnley Under-18s at Pride Park Stadium in Premier League – North on Friday night.
Kieran Clarke got the Young Rams in the lead in extra time of the first half, but Burnley turned the contest around in the second half - Destiny Okonkwo struck in the 68th minute, and Warren Taylor headed to win the match with two minutes of regulation time remaining.
It was a cagey start to the game, with neither side able to take control of the game in the initial stages.
As the Derby began to grow into the game, they managed to work their first major chance, exposing the opposition's backline and putting Israel Green through on goal.
Goalkeeper Connor Edwards left his box to try and intercept the pass and misread the situation; however, Green was unable to convert the chance to put the hosts ahead.
Shortly after, the Young Rams had another huge opportunity as the cross came in from Clarke from the left side, and Green leapt high, but saw his headed effort was tipped onto the crossbar by the opposition goalkeeper.
The chances were mounting for Derby as the ball fell to Dantel Hodges from a corner kick, but he was unable to guide his shot goalwards through the sea of Burnley bodies.
As the game neared half-time, the away side came close to a breakthrough goal by Okonkwo in the 42nd minute, but thanks to Derby goalkeeper Spencer O’Neill’s remarkable reflex save, the score was kept level.
Moments later, the visitors launched another attack, with the midfielder Dylan Morison’s curled shot clipping the outside of the post.
On the stroke of half-time, the deadlock was broken. A well-worked team goal was completed by Clarke, who got onto the end of a searching cross by Euan Griffiths to guide the ball home with a low and hard volley into the far corner.
Derby suffered an early scare at the start of the second period, as the ball was fizzed across the box with Morison’s shot going just wide of the post.
Not too long later, Charlie Smith was found in acres of space and managed to drive with the ball to the edge of the box, feeding through Green, who cut inside his man and let off a shot that hit the far post.
Burnley then equalised in the 66th minute when Okonkwo got on the end of a cross from Blayz Borgesson, with his header looping over the goalkeeper’s arms.
The home side looked for an immediate response as Green made his way into the box, but dragged his shot wide of the post.
A golden opportunity fell to Sean Corry in the 73rd minute when he headed on target after the rebound of a cross, but his effort was saved.
The Burnley wide man came close to putting the away side ahead in the 81st minute, as he drove to the edge of the box and let off a strike that hit the post.
The game became end-to-end as both sides searched for a winner. Derby engineered a two-on-one situation in attack with Zayne Blake cutting the ball across for Green, who was closed down and couldn’t get his shot off.
The winning goal came late on in the 88th minute from Taylor, who got onto the end of a cross from the right side flank to seal three points.
Derby County Under-18s: O'Neill (GK), Corry, Stokes, Taylor, Connor (Friars 68), Hodges, Griffiths (Blake 68), Harvey (Mintus 56), Green, Smith (C), K Clarke.
Unused Substitutes: Dzialuk (GK), Thomas.
Bradley Johnson's Under-18s side have two matches remaining in Premier League - North.
They will head out on the road to Manchester City on Saturday 2nd May (12pm kick-off).
Words: Eben Mayiza
