Derby County’s Under-18s secured their first point of the 2022/23 season with a 2-2 draw against unbeaten Wolverhampton Wanderers Under-18s at Moor Farm Training Ground on Saturday.
Lennon Wheeldon scored twice to earn the young Rams their first point of the season following three consecutive defeats to start the Under-18 Premier League - North season.
The start to the game was lively with chances coming early on for both sides, especially for the visitors who almost scored in the opening seconds.
Derby came close to scoring in the eighth minute through Wheeldon as he took the ball around Jimmy Storer in the Wolves goal. However, the goalkeeper recovered well following a slip to deny the forward.
Moments later Wolves had a penalty appeal waved away from which Derby counter-attacked but the shot by Reece Nicholas-Davies was dragged wide of the post.
An early scare came for the young Rams, as Leon Chiwome thought he had given Wolves the lead in the 13th minute, but his effort was ruled out for offside.
The deadlock was broken a minute later, however, as Wheeldon converted from inside the area with a perfectly placed header into the far corner following Billy Gough’s cross, giving the Rams the lead with their first goal of the campaign.
Wolves had another penalty appeal in the 21st minute, this time it was given by the referee as he adjudged Kei Robinson’s challenge to be reckless.
Owen Farmer stepped up and converted from the spot to pull Wolves level with a powerful strike past Jack Thompson in the Derby goal.
The visitors went on to take the lead just three minutes later. Conor McLeod tapped the ball into the empty net after being played in by Farmer, who had rounded Thompson in the build-up.
Gough, who created Derby’s first goal, won a penalty for the side’s equaliser in the second half following an excellent run down the left-hand side which saw him brought down by a Wolves defender.
Wheeldon confidently stepped up to take the spot-kick and smashed the ball into the top corner despite the Wolves goalkeeper going the right way to level the game in the 65th minute.
Following the second Derby goal, chances were few and far between for both sides. However, Wolves had the best opportunity to grab a winner in the 94th minute.
The ball was invitingly played into the Derby penalty area which Chiwome managed to connect with, but his effort was blazed over the bar from close range.
The draw sets the Under-18s up well for their fixture against local rivals Nottingham Forest on Tuesday evening at Moor Farm Training Ground.
Derby County Under 18s: Thompson (GK), Perry (Dixon 50), Gough (Gill 75), Moore, Robinson, Aideyan, McAndrew, Fapetu, Wheeldon, Ashia (Simons 78), Nicholas-Davies.
Substitutes Not Used: Shattell (GK).
Report by Mitch Barwell.