Premier League 2

Derby County U21 1 (Stepien-Iwumene 31’)

Leeds United U21 2 (Gray 65’, 83’)

Derby: Evans (GK) (C), Bartley, Moloney, Robinson, Osayande, Gill (Gordon 67’), Perry, Turley, Wheeldon, Agustien (Ebuka 56’), Stepien-Iwumene (Richards 46’). Subs not used: Shattell (GK), Green.

Leeds: Mahady (GK), Douglas, Ferguson, Monteiro, Lopata-White, Moore, Nfonkeu (Firth 56’), Cresswell (C), Gray, Chadwick (Pickles 68’), McFadden (McDonald 56’). Subs not used: Ombang (GK), Morris.

Venue: The Proctor Cars Stadium

Referee: Wayne Cartmel

Booked: Turley (Derby)

Leeds United Under-21s put in a superb performance to fight from a goal down to earn victory over Derby County Under-21s in the Premier League 2, thanks to Harry Gray’s second half brace!

In difficult conditions as the rain teemed down in Matlock, the hosts had the first opportunity of the afternoon when forward Lennon Wheeldon saw a well struck effort from the edge of the area canon off a yellow shirt and away from danger.

It was the hosts’ keeper that impressively ensured the scores remained level shortly afterwards however, racing out to smother from Gray. The forward had latched onto a poor back pass and darted through, though as he looked to round Harry Evans, the Rams stopper did superbly well to stick out a boot and intervene.

Rory Mahady then launched an electric break, picking out the run of Connor Ferguson over half-way. The full-back marauded inside the box and found Gray, but a series of impressive blocks and a reaction save from Evans denied the forward and then Rhys Chadwick from close range.

Scott Gardner’s side were dominating; the Whites would go close once more when Ferguson met Chadwick’s searching pass, crossing for the lively Gray only for Adisa Osayande to scramble clear.

Forward Brooklyn Nfonkeu, on his first start for United, was next to test Evans, with the keeper getting down well to parry a fizzing, deflected strike.

Leeds were playing some scintillating football despite the conditions and a pitch that might have suggested otherwise. Chadwick and Connor Douglas combined down the right, before the latter’s dangerous low delivery found the onrushing Ferguson at the back post.

The left-back drilled a first-time effort towards goal but another impressive block from a Rams’ defender denied the visitors a more than deserved opener.

Despite the mounting pressure, Derby sent a timely reminder of the threat they posed on the break when Demiane Agustien charged through, before the alert Mahady darted out to intercept.

Wheeldon and Riley Moloney then had further chances that were dealt with by the Whites’ defence, but it was Alex Stepien-Iwumene who put the hosts ahead as he bundled home from point-blank range against the run of play.

Looking to respond, Douglas forced another strong save from Evans after his run in behind on the right flank was found well by Gray, before referee Wayne Cartmel brought the first-half to an end.

HALF TIME: Derby County U21 1-0 Leeds United U21

Gardner’s side emerged for the second 45 minutes unchanged, as did the weather, continuing to lash down in Derbyshire and ensuring the playing surface became increasingly heavy under foot.

An early chance saw Wheeldon scamper into space down the right. Questions were asked about whether the striker had remained onside with the flag staying down, though it wasn’t to cause controversy as Mahady made a great sprawling save and Leeds cleared their lines.

United went agonisingly close to levelling proceedings 10 minutes into the half. An incisive counter ended with Nfonkeu meeting a looping cross at the back post, heading towards goal which cannoned off Osayande and trickled inches wide.

A double change for the Whites then saw Will Firth and Josh McDonald enter the action, as the visitors shuffled the pack looking to restore parity.

McDonald was immediately involved in the action, collecting the ball on the left flank and weaving his way into the area before a ricochet allowed Evans to comfortably collect a low strike.

The Rams would have added a second if not for an unbelievable clearance from Reuben Lopata-White. Mahady had initially got a hand on substitute Jerome Richards’ efforts that then bounced towards goal, before the defender superbly recovered to hack off the line.

And how United would reap the rewards moments later… The visitors launched bodies forward, resulting in Douglas cutting an inch-perfect cross into the path of Gray.

Still with work to do, the forward took a touch to create space and lashed a brilliant strike emphatically beyond Evans and into the bottom corner!

In what had become a very open encounter, Wheeldon then had an opportunity to put the Rams back into the lead, forcing another impressive stop from Mahady. Again, the home team went close through Charles Ebuka, who dragged wide of the upright.

The Whites would instead grab the winner seven minutes from time and it was Gray once more who found the back of the net!

Douglas, initially, had done brilliantly to evade multiple challenges and threaded a pass behind for Oliver Pickles to set off in pursuit of. The substitute twisted and turned into the area, drawing a good save from Evans with Gray then well placed to fire home the rebound.

The striker was denied a hattrick by the foot of the post in the dying stages after skipping into space inside the area, before the full-time whistle brought an enthralling encounter to a close!

FULL TIME: Derby County U21 1-2 Leeds United U21