Angel Gomes

Under-18s: Derby County 0 Manchester United 2

Saturday 09 September 2017 14:00

A goal in each half at Derby County’s picturesque Oakwood training facility saw Kieran McKenna’s team gain their second victory of the season.

Angel Gomes grabbed the opening goal midway through the first half and the win was sealed after the break when Nishan Burkart doubled the advantage.

Fears that the terrible weather, mainly extremely heavy rain, experienced on the journey to Derby could be what the teams may have to contend with during the game, thankfully, proved to be unfounded.

Both teams began the game slowly with Derby marginally having the better of the early attacking action.

There was little in it until the 26th minute when Brandon Williams picked out Burkart with a long downfield ball. The Reds' centre forward did well to keep the ball from drifting off the pitch and the quickly found Gomes on the edge of the area.

There were several Derby defenders ready to challenge Gomes but he kept his composure before curling a beautiful shot out of the reach of goalkeeper Matthew Yates.

United almost went further ahead just before the break when Aidan Barlow tried his luck from distance, but the ball flew inches wide of the target.

Buoyed by their success in the first half, United came out for the second spell looking far more adventurous and confident. Gomes fired over from a good position and Ethan Laird went close with a header from Barlow’s corner.

Then, in the 59th minute, United’s good work bore fruit when they grabbed a second goal of the afternoon.

There was no hint of what was to follow when the ball ran to Burkart in the middle of the field. Derby were well represented but a lapse amongst them allowed the United striker to break free and he gleefully took the opportunity to advance upfield before lashing the ball past the diving keeper.

United rarely looked in trouble after that and with an ounce of luck Barlow and George Tanner could have added to the list of goalscorers.

United: Fojticek; Laird, Dunne, O’Connor, Willims; Baars (Greenwood 62), Garner, Levitt, Barlow (McGhee 77); Gomes, Burkart (Tanner 82). Subs not used: Thompson, Mellor.