Derby County Under-21s were victorious in The Central League with a 2-0 victory against Huddersfield Town B at Moor Farm Training Ground on Tuesday afternoon.
The Rams’ Under-18s coaching staff took the reins of the Under-21s side for the clash, with Lead Coach Danny Maye and Assistant Bradley Johnson on the sidelines.
A rapid start saw Derby in front quickly when Israel Green converted with a tap-in finish to tuck away Dantel Hodges’ low cross into the box in the third minute.
Justin Oguntolu fired narrowly wide in the sixth minute after Green’s through ball fashioned a one-on-one scenario, but the striker's effort spun across goal and on the wrong side of the post.
Cian Philpott had the visitors' first shot of the match in the 11th minute as the ball dropped for him on the edge of the area, but the Rams’ defence got out quickly to block the shot away from danger.
Green doubled Derby’s advantage in the 14th minute as he completed a speedy counter-attack. Hodges drove down the left flank and passed inside to Oguntolu. His strike deflected into the path of Sean Corry, who struck across the face of the goal where Green was alert to poke home.
Aaron Chungh’s shot was saved comfortably by Derby goalkeeper Harry Evans in the 26th minute - the Terriers’ first shot on target, despite seeing a majority of possession as the half progressed.
Green came close to the hat-trick in the 34th minute after he dispossessed a Huddersfield defender high up the pitch, but his effort was drilled just beyond the post.
The Terriers came under pressure again as Oguntolu bore down on goal a minute later, but a strong save from the Huddersfield trialist goalkeeper denied him, and the game went into the break with a two-goal cushion for the Rams.
Marsel Tola looked to have set up Oguntolu to open his account in the game when the midfielder won possession inside the Huddersfield half in the 53rd minute. He slotted Oguntolu behind but the defender marking him and the goalkeeper did well to recover and limited him to only poking the ball wide of the mark.
Derby continued to threaten as Corry directed the ball towards goal moments later but last-ditch defending saw both his effort and Oguntolu’s follow-up blocked by the Terriers’ defence.
A fast-paced move saw Alex Stepien-Iwumene switch the ball to the edge of the area for it to be swung into the box and onto the head of Oguntolu in the 59th minute, but his header looped just over the bar.
Substitute Kacey Gill looked to make an impact from the bench as he threaded in Oguntolu, who saw his effort blocked on the edge of the box, and moments later Gill forced a diving save from the goalkeeper in the 65th minute.
Evans performed a well-timed dash off his line to block the ball with his body – his first significant save of the match - as Chungh surged into the box and had an attempt at goal in the 71st minute. He was in action again to save from Ashia’s free kick in the 83rd minute but, in the end, Derby held on to take the win.
The Under-21s will next be in action when they again play host in The Central League, this time against Stoke City on Tuesday 1st April (1pm kick-off).
Team News
Derby County Under-21s: Evans (GK (C), Marriott (Doyle 66), Moloney, Tola (Clarke 76), Canoville, Stepien-Iwumene, Corry (K Gill 60), Hawkins, Oguntolu, Green (Stokes 60), Hodges.
Substitutes Not Used: Price (GK).
