Derby County Under-23s extended their lead at the top of Premier League 2 Division 1 with a 2-1 victory over Tottenham Hotspurs in the capital.
Striking duo Jahmal Hector-Ingram and Jack Stretton had a goal apiece to help the Rams to their third consecutive victory in the league. Hector-Ingram cancelled out Alfie Devine’s earlier goal when he struck in from Stretton’s parried effort.
Deep into the second-half, Hector-Ingram was brought down in the area, but it was Stretton who stood up to the spot to bag his fourth goal in two games. Brad Foster also made a trio of brilliant saves in the game, the third – and best – coming in the 90th minutes with an acrobatic leap to deny Kian Etete.
It was a steady start to the game as both sides shared possession without getting a good look at the goal. However, it was the Host’s who got a better foothold as the game went on.
Dennis Cirkin came the closest for Spurs inside 20 minutes when he got on the end of a cross with plenty of space at the back post, but his half-volley hit the side netting.
Just four minutes later and Tottenham had the lead. With the first corner of the game, Devine headed home.
Spurs looked likely to score again soon after when Jack Clarke sent a low shot just wide of the mark before Dilan Markanday’s effort rattled off the far post and was quickly well-cleared by the Rams’ defence.
It proved to be an important miss for the Rams, who went on to score straight down the other end. Coming off his hat-trick against West Ham United on Monday night, Jack Stretton powered into the left side of the box and took aim from close range.
Brandon Austin parried his shot that went straight to Hector-Ingram. The striker controlled the ball down and struck into the back of the net to level the score ten minutes ahead of half-time.
Both sides came very close to grabbing the lead ten minutes into the second-half.
First, Spurs’ Harvey White sent a free-kick into the box and Brooklyn Lyons-Foster jumped to get on the end and directs his header goal-bound. Brad Foster does brilliantly to dive and parry the shot and Dilan Markanday could only send his tap in into the side netting.
Straight down the other end, Louie Watson delivered his corner into the goalmouth and Callum Minkley rose the highest to head just over onto the roof of the net.
Spurs had another chance when White’s cross was met by Kian Etete, but the striker couldn’t connect well with the header and sent it wide at an open back post.
However, with just more than ten minutes left to play, the Rams took the lead for the first-time. Hector-Ingram was brought down in the box and was awarded a penalty. Stretton stepped up to the spot and rifled the effort into the right corner.
Tottenham Hotspur U23s: Austin, Lavinier, Cirkin, Rose, Okedina, Lyons-Foster, Markanday, White, Etete, Devine, Clarke
Substitutes: De Bie, Bennett Omole, Pedder, Pochettino
Derby County U23s: Foster, McDonald, A. Brown, Hutchinson, J. Brown, Minkley, Shonibare, Dixon, Stretton, Hector-Ingram, Watson
Substitutes: Sykes-Kenworthy, Thompson, Cresswell, Duncan, Bardell