3/1 To Win
Derby County's Under-18s progressed to the Third Round of the FA Youth Cup thanks to a hugely impressive 4-1 victory over Bolton Wanderers Under-18s on Monday night.
Goals from Harry Hawkins, Lennon Wheeldon, Dajaune Brown and Owen Eames cemented a big win for the young Rams and set up a visit to Manchester United Under-18s in December.
Derby very nearly took an early lead at the Toughsheet Community Stadium through Johnson Osong but his deflected effort was cleared off of the line by Trotters defender Oliver Smith.
Left winger Osong then had a one-on-one effort brilliantly saved by George Barlow in the Bolton goal before Brown fired inches wide with an effort from the edge of the area.
Osong was a constant threat in the first half and bent a strike over from around 20-yards and Niall McAndrew placed an effort just wide of Barlow's far post.
Wheeldon and Brown forced Barlow into two good saves prior to the break before Hawkins finally broke the deadlock in the 41st minute.
A corner was only half cleared by the Bolton defence and Hawkins hit a lovely first-time half-volley beyond Barlow to give Derby a well deserved lead.
And it got better with the final action of the first half when Wheeldon made it two. The forward was played in down the left by Billy Gough and he cut inside before firing an unstoppable strike beyond the Bolton shot-stopper to give the Rams a two goal cushion at the break.
The second half started as the first ended with the Derby well on top. Wheeldon and McAndrew both went close in the opening minutes as Danny Maye's side looked to put the game out of sight while Brown fired just wide.
But it was three in the 53rd minute and it was that man Brown on target. He outmuscled two defenders and worked his way into the area before being cynically taken down for a penalty.
He himself stepped up to take the spot kick himself and made no mistake, stuttering before coolly sending the goalkeeper the wrong way.
Wheeldon was inches away from his second of the night when he fired narrowly wide from the edge of the area as the tie entered the final 10 minutes.
The Rams did get their fourth soon after through substitute Eames. Neat hold-up play from Brown saw him lay off Eames inside the box and the latter made no mistake, firing low and hard beyond Barlow.
It wasn't quite perfection for Maye's side, however, with the hosts scoring with the last kick of the game throught Daeshon Lawrence to deny the Rams' backline a clean sheet.
The final 4-1 scoreline was the least the Rams deserved for their excellent performance and they now progress to face Manchester United Under-18s in the Third Round next month.
Images: Jack Horrocks and Ben Livingstone.
The Team
Derby County Under-18s: Thompson (GK), Gough, Hawkins, Cox (46' Banks), Robinson (C), McAndrew, Allen (78' Oguntolu), Brown, Wheeldon, Osong (61' Eames).
Substitutes Not Used: Price (GK), Gordon, Tola, Agustien.
