Pre-Season Friendly
The Moat Ground, Church Gresley
Tuesday, 26th July 2011, 7.30pm
Young Rams Pip Gresley
A young Derby County side made up of academy players came out on top in an entertaining game at the Moat Ground.
They showed their intentions early on with Adam Wixted firing wide early on but Gresley responded with Marc Goodfellow putting his shot over the bar.
It was Andy Dales who was next to try his luck but his shot flew wide. However, on 30 minutes The Rams took the lead when Gresley defender Jamie Barrett hesitated allowing Mason Bennett to nip in and take the ball before slipping it past home keeper Darren Keeling.
The lead lasted just six minutes. Goodfellow made a run into the box only to be floored by Stefan Gakinski near the bye-line in the area giving the referee Mr Sutton an easy decision as he pointed to the spot. Jermaine Gordon sent the keeper Matts Morch the wrong way with his kick.
The homeside should have taken the lead minutes later when a superb pass from Ash Day sent Mickey Lyons racing into the area and although he beat the keeper he steered his shot agonisingly the wrong side of the far post.
The Rams themselves could have gone in at the break in front after being denied twice by the Gresley defence. First a superbly time last ditch tackle from Lee Barrow prevented Bennett from adding to his tally and then Keeling saving well to deny Ray Chattersee from getting on the score sheet.
Gresley took the lead early in the second half when Jake Duffy slotted the ball home off the inside of the near post and almost added another minutes later when Day made a run down the right but put his shot into the side netting.
Home substitute Aaron Dillon then gave the Moatmen the chance to increase the lead after being brought down in the area by Kyode Bola. Goodfellow took this spot kick but sent the ball past the bottom of the right post.
Gresley were to rue that miss as The Rams applied some intense pressure on the defence that brought dividends. Will Hughes had a shot cleared off the line by Matt Hill, Wixted had his first two attempts blocked by Keeling before slotting his final one into the net.
Royce Turville, one of the Gresley substitutes, went close to giving his side the lead once more when he lobbed the keeper after being put through but his effort landed on the top of the net.
The impressive Hughes didn't miss his chance when he made a good run through the middle before slotting the ball past Keeling to give the young Rams the lead.
Goodfellow had a low shot held at the near post and at the other end Wixted's shot was blocked and Hughes fired just wide.
The last chance in this end-to-end game came for Gresley and it almost gave then an equaliser. Substitute Richard Hanslow was denied the glory when his shot was cleared off the line by a Derby defender after Morch had been beaten.
