Fri 17 Jul - Posted in Breaking News
Time to read: 3mins
Derby County made a positive start to their pre-season campaign, securing a 2-0 victory against Alfreton Town on Friday evening.
Joe Ward opened the scoring at the Solana Stadium, with Bobby Clark adding a second in the later stages of the first half.
Two different sides took to the field to gain match minutes in each half for the Rams. Following a positive start to the game with two goals before the break, a young Derby XI held out in the second half to come away with the win in the friendly.
The win comes before John Eustace’s squad head into their pre-season training camp in Austria next week, with a clash with SC Freiburg imminent on Friday 24th July (3pm BST / 4pm local time).
Derby's four remaining pre-season clashes will all be available to watch LIVE on RamsTV - click here for details.
Derby looked lively within the opening minute, as Hedges linked up with Clark in an early burst, though Lewis Travis saw his powerful shot blocked by the defence.
Carlton Morris produced a first shot on target for the Rams, though his effort proved an easy save for the Alfreton goalkeeper.
Ward opened the scoring with his head just shy of the 15-minute mark, meeting a well-drilled cross by trialist Ryan Hedges.
Morris was denied by a fantastic save to prevent a second for the Rams, with goalscorer Ward providing a great ball into the area for the striker to meet.
Clark extended Derby’s lead just after the half-hour mark, finishing off some neat interplay between Hedges and Morris to tuck the ball into the goalkeeper’s bottom left-hand corner for 2-0.
Hedges’ first appearance ended before half-time as he was withdrawn through injury and replaced by youngster Remi Harvey - who enters the Under-18s setup as a first-year scholar for the 2026/27 season.
Derby held on until the break, with the goals from Ward and Clark being the difference-maker.
Derby looked to test the hosts' defence with some early pressure from a corner, though the Rams rued their chances of a third goal.
The interval allowed for a fully changed team in the second half, with the returning Dajaune Brown looking impressive despite the Rams’ lack of attacking chances.
The Rams kept the hosts out well in the second half, with Richard O’Donnell only required to make one save.
Justin Oguntolu looked to add a third late on, though his effort was well-saved by substitute goalkeeper James Wright.
Alfreton Town: Trialist (Wright 60), Parker, Trialist, Benson (Finney 43), Trialist, Solanke, Trialist, Kruszynski (Trialist 60), Ligendza, Odunaiya (Trialist 60), Dixon.
Unused subs: Trialist (GK),Trialist, Trialist, Gough, Youmbi.
Derby County first half XI: Vickers (GK), Forsyth, Clarke, Clark, Morris, Johnston, Ward, Travis (C), Sanderson, Fraulo, Hedges (Harvey 39).
Derby County second half XI: O’Donnell (GK), Salvesen, Thompson (C), Goudmijn, Eames, Brown, Gill, Smith (Oguntolu 75), Crolla, Canoville, Osayande.
Unused subs: Kane (GK).
The Rams will face SC Freiburg at the end of next week's overseas training camp in Austria. Eustace's side will meet the UEFA Europa League finalists on Friday 24th July (3pm BST / 4pm local time).
Words: Archie Brown
