Derby County’s final pre-season fixture ahead of the 2022/23 season saw a much-changed line-up go down 2-1 at National League - North side Alfreton Town on Tuesday evening.
Fraser Preston gave Alfreton the lead early on and Dayle Southwell went on to add a second for the hosts just after half-time.
Sean Robertson, a free agent training with the Rams, pulled a goal back midway through the second half and although they had chances to haul themselves level they weren’t able to add to their tally as the hosts saw the game out.
Interim Manager Liam Rosenior opted to spread the minutes right across the squad with the only player that started in the friendly against Leicester City at the weekend to feature was Korey Smith.
Scott Loach, Kwaku Oduroh, Richard Stearman, Eiran Cashin, Craig Forsyth, Liam Thompson, Darren Robinson, Louie Sibley and Jack Stretton started from the off in order to build up their match sharpness ahead of the League One season-opener against Oxford United on Saturday.
The aforementioned Robertson, Jake Rooney and Sonny Blu Lo-Everton are currently training with Derby as they look to impress and ex-Crystal Palace player Robertson was named in the side, while Rooney and Lo-Everton were named on the bench.
Alfreton, meanwhile, are continuing their preparations for the National League - North opener against Chester FC on 6th August and themselves named a strong side with powerful striker Tom Denton offering a tall and powerful focal point up front.
Derby started the friendly well before a packed house of just over 3,000 fans at the Impact Arena and with the Derbyshire sunshine beaming down, but it was Alfreton who took the lead after 12 minutes as the Rams’ backline failed to clear their lines and Fraser Preston beat the onrushing Loach to the ball and rolled it into the empty net from inside the area.
Cashin headed a Sibley corner wide a few minutes later as Derby looked to respond quickly, although it was Alfreton who had the next chance after 26 minutes as Tom Denton’s header was well saved by Loach at his near post.
Derby twice came close to levelling at the end of the half with Cashin having a header cleared off the line from another Sibley corner while Smith’s shot on the turn inside the box was saved by George Willis in the Alfreton goal.
Harrison Foulkes, Osazee Aghatise and Lo-Everton all came off the bench at the break in place of Loach, Oduroh and Robinson and six minutes into the half Alfreton were two goals to the good as a mix-up at the back allowed Southwell to burst clear on goal and slot the ball past Foulkes.
Derby halved the deficit with 25 minutes remaining as Robertson drove inside from the right-hand side and thundered a powerful drive into the top corner from around 25 yards out. It was an impressive moment from the right-sider, who played the first half on the right wing and the second half at right back, with Willis left with no chance.
Aghatise forced a save from Willis with an effort from range as Derby pushed on for an equaliser while Sibley forced a late save from substitute goalkeeper Jake Askew as the clock ticked down.
Derby weren’t able to get the equaliser they graved as Alfreton held on to claim the victory, with the full focus now set on the Rams’ 2022/23 League One opener against Oxford at Pride Park Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
Alfreton Town: Willis (GK) (Askew 77), Clackstone, Preston (Wilder 84), Cantrill, Smith, Wiley, Preston, Branson (Lund 65), Denton (Dockerty 60), Southwell (Witham 69), Hobson.
Substitutes Not Used: Trialist 1, Trialist 2, Trialist 3.
Derby County: Loach (GK) (Foulkes 46), Oduroh (Lo-Everton 46), Stearman, Cashin, Forsyth (C), Smith (Rooney 69), Thompson, Robinson (Aghatise 46), Robertson, Sibley, Stretton.
Substitutes Not Used: Nunn, Grewal-Pollard, Richards.
Attendance: 3,105
