U18s: United v Derby

Travis Binnion’s side were the dominant force in the Under-18 Premier League contest from the off, and took a 3-1 lead into the break following James Scanlon's opener and a Victor Musa brace. Dejaune Brown’s had replied for the Rams after Musa's first goal to halve the deficit, but the United forward struck again to put the young Reds firmly in control of the match.

United pulled clear of the visitors after the break. Nolan struck superbly into the top corner from 20 yards, before Ethan Williams supplied a similarly powerful drive into the opposite corner 15 minutes later.

A late Derby rally came unexpectedly in the final 10 minutes, as Carlos Richards finished well to pull one back and Lennon Wheeldon was awarded a late penalty. However, Reds ‘keeper Elyh Harrison saved the resulting spot-kick to seal a thrilling 5-2 win.

United came out brightly and almost had the lead seconds into the match, when Adam Berry almost picked out Musa with a dangerous pass, before skipper Jack Kingdon nodded wide from the resulting corner.

Nolan looked for Scanlon minutes later with a clever ball that attempted to play the midfielder in behind, although goalkeeper Josh Shattell smothered the ball.

But Scanlon wasn't to be denied by the Derby 'keeper second time round, as he latched onto Berry's forward pass before side-footing the ball past Shattell for the opening goal after eight minutes.

Derby started to come back into it as the half progressed, as Chris Richards played a dangerous ball across the face of goal from the right, which United managed to clear.

The visitors looked to have equalised when a free-kick was diverted beyond Harrison, but was chalked off, seemingly for a Callum Moore handball.

United rose again, though, to kickstart an action-packed end to the half , with a flurry of action that both started and finished with Musa finding the back of the net. The forward got his first to double our lead on 35 minutes, taking the ball in brilliantly from Nolan and rounding Shattell before supplying the finishing touch.

Derby responded, as Harry Hawkins intercepted in midfield and Fapetu played it down the right of the area for Cameron Ashia to roll the ball across the face of goal for Brown, who made no mistake with his finish.

Ashia nearly turned goalscorer just before the break when he got onto the end Carlos Richards’ pass and fired against the crossbar, but it would be United who would find the back of the net next. Musa got his second of the game moments before half-time, latching onto Habeeb Ogunneye’s through ball and slotting into the bottom corner.

It was another strong from the Reds in the second half, who soon extended the lead through Nolan after he controlled on the edge of the box and found the back of the net expertly.

Musa could have got his hat-trick only four minutes later, on 57 minutes, as he took over possession after good work from Bendito Manteto, but struck against the crossbar.

The fifth did come with just over 20 minutes remaining, and it was a deserved strike for Williams, who was well picked out by half-time substitute Sekou Kaba on the left side of the box, and he viciously struck back across goal to find the bottom right corner.

Musa had another chance to get his third when Williams, who swapped to the right flank late on, drove the ball menacingly across goal, but our no.9 couldn’t connect with his delivery.

The Rams had a second wind late in the game as Richards finished cleverly beyond Harrison inside the final ten minutes, before the visitors were awarded a penalty after skipper Louis Jackson’s challenge on Derby substitute Lennon Wheeldon.

Wheeldon stepped up to take the resulting spot kick, but Harrison clutched out a strong hand in the way of his strike, and stood tall to block the rebound, as our young Reds saw out the remaining stages for an emphatic, and well-deserved, victory.

MATCH DETAILS

United XI: Harrison, Ogunneye (Kaba 46), Kingdon, Jackson (c), Mantato, Berry, Nolan, Kamason, Scanlon (Oriola 68), Williams, Musa.

Subs: Myles, Munro, Armer.

Goals: Scanlon 8, Musa 35, 44, Nolan 53, Williams 69.