Derby County Under-21s completed an impressive comeback to draw 3-3 with Maidenhead United in the National League Cup at York Road on Tuesday night.


The young Rams earned a point from the draw but the hosts took an extra point in the competition as the National League side were won in a penalty shootout following the 90 minutes.

Jake Rooney captained the side once again as he continues to regain match minutes and rebuild his sharpness after returning from a knee injury sustained in the first team's pre-season training camp.

After Maidenhead took a two-goal lead, through Tobi Sho Silva and Joseph Ajose in the first period, Lennon Wheeldon and Darren Robinson netted to level the game in the second half. Ajose’s second goal of the game had the hosts ahead again with 20 minutes left to play but Harry Hawkins cancelled out the goal just three minutes later.

Match Report

Derby couldn’t get a foothold in the first half after conceding inside the opening twenty minutes as Sho Silva scored on the rebound from a free-kick.

The home side doubled their lead just ten minutes later through Ajose. A cross from Sam Barratt found the midfielder in open space to allow for a comfortable headed finish.

After the interval, the Rams came out flying. They scored just three minutes into the second half following a close-range effort from Emmanuel Ilesanmi which rebounded kindly to Wheeldon, who slotted the ball home.

Soon after the score was level, Freddie Turley’s corner picked out Darren Robinson at the back post to head the ball into the hosts’ net.

Maidenhead found themselves in front with twenty minutes remaining through Ajose again. But just minutes later the young Rams were back level after a thumping strike from Harry Hawkins crashed off the crossbar on its way to the back of the net.

As the game proceeded into injury time substitute Johnson Osong almost snatched all three points for Derby, but his low-driven strike collided with the post and went behind for a goal kick.

The young Rams will return to Premier League 2 action at home to Chelsea on Monday 11th November (1pm kick-off).

Team News

Derby County Under-21s: Thompson (GK), Perry, Rooney (C), K. Robinson, Gill, Turley (Osong 62’), Hawkins, D. Robinson, Allen (Eames 78’), Ilesanmi (Spencer 62’), Wheeldon.

Unused Substitutes: Evans, Osayande, Stepien-Iwumene, Richards.

Words: Joe Bird