Derby County’s Under-21s were beaten 3-0 by table-topping Leeds United in Premier League 2 - Division 2 on Monday evening.
Sonny Perkins and Joe Snowdon’s first half goals at York City’s LNER Stadium put the hosts in firm control before Perkins added a third in the closing stages.
Derby started well and defender Harrison Solomon glanced a header narrowly wide early on before Perkins opened the scoring after 15 minutes.
Leeds won the ball high up the pitch and, after being played clear on goal, Perkins kept his cool to round Harry Evans in the Derby goal and find the back of the net.
Snowdon went on to double Leeds’ advantage just before the half-hour mark. After being set up by Perkins, he lashed a 25-yard strike beyond the reach of Evans to leave the Rams with a mountain to climb.
Solomon had an effort cleared off the line as Derby pushed for a way back into the contest before the break, but the hosts went in at the turnaround two goals to the good.
Kido Talyor-Hart and Bartosz Cybulski both went close to pulling goals back for Derby in the second half, but it was Leeds who netted the third goal of the game as Perkins slotted home with just under ten minutes remaining.
Pat Lyons’ side will take a break from league action when they head to Belper Town in the Semi-Finals of the Derbyshire Senior Cup on Tuesday 14th March (7:45pm kick-off), before hosting Stoke City in Premier League 2 - Division 2 action on Monday 20th March (7pm kick-off) at Loughborough University Stadium.
Leeds United Under-21s: Christy (GK), Moore, Monteiro (Debayo 86), Mullen, Ferguson, Gyabi, Allen (Crew 69), Greenwood, Joseph, Perkins, Snowdon (Gray 46).
Substitutes Not Used: Brook (GK), Spencer.
Derby County Under-21s: Evans (GK), Oduroh, Moloney, Robinson, Bardell (C) (Grewal-Pollard 46), Solomon (Brailsford 89), Taylor-Hart, Bates (Richards 82), Cybulski, Oseni (Ibrahim 52), Vigar.
Substitutes Not Used: Roberts (GK).