Derby County Under-18s dismantled Leeds United Under-18s 6-2 on Wednesday afternoon in their penultimate away fixture of the Under-18 Premier League campaign.
Goals from Cameron Ashia and Owen Eames earned the Rams a two-goal advantage in the first half before Max McFadden’s free-kick and Rhys Chadwick’s half-volley saw the scoreline level at the break. Cruz Allen, Justin Oguntolu and Niall McAndrew then rounded up the scoring in the second half, the latter with a brace off the bench, to secure a crucial three points in Yorkshire.
The first real opportunity to open the scoring fell Derby’s way after some impressive Lennon Wheeldon pressing. The forward won possession of the ball inside the Leeds area before teeing up Cruz Allen in the 12th minute, but Allen’s curling effort flew just over the crossbar on this occasion.
Jake Buxton’s side then took the lead nine minutes later through Ashia. Following some brilliant work by Tristan Gill on the left flank, captain Bayo Fapetu picked up the ball on the edge of the area and put the ball on a plate for Ashia to tidily tuck home his attempt from close range.
No sooner had the young Rams taken the lead than they had doubled their advantage. Practically straight from the hosts’ kick-off, a well-worked team move was finished off by Eames with a thumping strike past Rory Mahady into the roof of the net.
Six minutes later the deficit was halved as McFadden expertly dispatched a free-kick into the top right hand corner.
The hosts then pulled level in the 36th minute as Chadwick‘s half-volley effort struck the post and found its way into the back of the net.
Derby regained their lead shortly after the break and never looked back for the remainder of the fixture.
Substitute Justin Oguntolu put the young Rams back in front in the 54th minute by latching onto the end of Gill’s cross and planting his header home from the centre of the box.
The two-goal cushion was then restored in the 63rd minute as Allen capitalised on a defensive error to prod home the fourth of the afternoon for Buxton’s side.
Fresh off the bench, McAndrew strode through on goal in the 69th minute before spinning his defender and finishing well into the bottom left-hand corner for his first of the day.
With just two minutes remaining on the clock, McAndrew grabbed his second. The ball was worked into the box by Fapetu who sent an enticing delivery towards goal where the striker was poised and ready to tap home for the Rams’ sixth.
Buxton’s side face Manchester City Under-18s in their next encounter, this Saturday at 12:30pm on home soil.
Derby County Under-18s: Thompson (GK), Moore, Gill, Fapetu (C), Aideyan, Osayande (Saponara 46), Ashia, Allen, Wheeldon (Oguntolu 46), Eames (Jenks 48), Simons (McAndrew 64).
Substitutes Not Used: Shattell (GK).
Written by Jacob Hackett.