3/1 To Win
Bennett at the double - but Derby's U18s taste defeat in Yorkshire.
Bennett at the double - but Derby's U18s taste defeat in Yorkshire.
Derby County’s Under 18s saw a half-time lead slip through their hands for the second time in three games in the U18 PDL 2 North on Saturday, as they fell to a 4-2 reverse away to Leeds United.
Having fallen behind early on, England Under 17 international striker Mason Bennett equalised for the Rams after latching onto Andy Dales’s pass, and the 16-year-old went on to turn the game on its head by netting his second of the game from the penalty spot before the break.
However, a crazy four minutes immediately after the interval saw Leeds score two quick-fire goals to re-take the lead and leave Derby shell-shocked.
Despite dominating for long spells and seeing two efforts cleared off the line, Derby weren’t able to get back level again and Leeds went on to add a late fourth on the breakaway late on.
Academy Manager Darren Wassall said: “We urged the players to show a response to the disappointing performance at Wigan the previous weekend, and we certainly got that.
“We couldn’t ask for much more from the players in the first half and we deserved to be in front, thanks to Mason’s two-goal haul.
“However, we couldn’t take defensive solidity into the start of the second half and two quick goals were a huge frustration to us.
“Although we had chances, our luck was again out. However, there were lots of positives to take from the game, but we need to show more of a desire and dig deep when needed.”
The Under 18s now have two weeks before their next game, when they face Barnsley at Moor Farm on Saturday 17th November.
