Derby County’s Under-18s drew 1-1 with Blackburn Rovers in the Under-18 Premier League - North at Moor Farm Training Ground on Saturday.


The spoils were shared following a late Blackburn equaliser from George Shimel, who cancelled out Bayo Fapetu’s opener for the Rams.

It was a slow start to the game where neither side took control in the first 15 minutes.

Fapetu gave Derby the lead in the 17th minute with a perfectly placed free-kick following a foul on Reece Nicholas-Davies.

Following the goal, Derby stayed on top for most of the first half. Johnson Osong came close to doubling the young Rams’ lead midway through the half, hitting the post from the edge of the box following some nice footwork.

On the stroke of half time, Blackburn had the ball in the net, but the visitors’ goal was chalked off for offside.

The Rams started the second half on top, with lots of chances coming down the right side of play. Nicholas-Davies was denied multiple times by Rovers’ goalkeeper William Blease following great footwork.

Derby’s goalkeeper Harry Evans had an eventful end to the fixture and he got down well to prevent a dangerous counter-attack with ten minutes to play.

Jake Buxton’s side were made to pay for their missed chances two minutes from time, as Blackburn found a leveller through a rebound from substitute Shimel.

Zion Dixon had a good chance to give Derby the lead again in the closing stages, but his powerful header from a corner was sent over the crossbar.

The draw means Derby remain bottom of the Under-18 Premier League - North. The Rams travel to Hillsborough next time out to face Sheffield Wednesday in the Second Round of the FA Youth Cup on Monday 21st November (7pm kick-off).

Derby County Under-18s: Evans (GK), Moore, Gill, Hawkins, Robinson (C), Aideyan, Nicholas-Davies (McAndrew 77), Fapetu, Wheeldon, Sebagabo, Osong (Dixon 69).

Substitutes Not Used: Ashia, Shattell (GK), Trialist.

Blackburn Rovers Under-18s: Blease (GK), Murphy-Worrell, Powell, Litherland, Doherty, Caddick, Fyles (C), O’Grady, Nsagnou, Trialist, Biniek.

Substitutes: Wilson, Khan, Chimel, Farkas, Shorrocks.

Report by Peter Mahoney.