ALBION 0
*
DERBY 4
Bennett ’63, ‘69
Calero ‘70
Zanzala ‘73
- Second-half goals from Mason Bennett (2), Ivan Calero and Offrande Zanzala secured victory for Derby
- Christian Walton made his first Albion appearance since returning from Bury
- Under-18 midfielder Jayson Molumby played the full 90 minutes
- Albion’s next game is away at West Bromwich Albion on Monday 26th October
Two goals from Mason Bennett and a goal each by Ivan Calero and Offrande Zanzala claimed a comfortable win for the Rams in this Barclays Under-21 Premier League clash.
Under-21 coach Simon Rusk gave goalkeeper Christian Walton his first Albion start since he returned from a loan spell at Bury, while under-18 midfielder Jayson Molumby featured for the full 90 minutes.
The Seagulls created a chance in the opening minute of the game when Daniel Akindayini’s strike was gathered by Rams keeper Jonathan Mitchell.
The visitors had their first opportunity when Calero’s long-range strike drifted wide of the far post, with Walton scrambling to get across to the ball.
Calero was involved in the thick of the action again just moments later after meeting Callum Guy’s free-kick into the box, but Walton was on hand to parry the ball away.
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Derby had another chance shortly after the re-start when Alban Bunjaku took advantage of space, only to see his shot rise over the target.The deadlock was broken in the 63rd minute when Bennett saw his strike go in off the inside of the post.
The lead was doubled six minutes later as another clinical finish by Bennett beat Walton.
The Rams began to exploit the space down the left flank and added a third goal in the 70th minute, when Calero’s strike beat Walton at his near post.
Bennett then provided an assist for Zanzala to fire home a fourth goal for Derby from close-range after 73 minutes.
Substitute James Tilley had a chance to reduce the deficit when he cut inside from the right wing, but his shot produced a comfortable save from Mitchell.
Bennett and Calero could have added extra gloss to the scoreline late on for Derby, before Charlie Harris saw his speculative strike rise over the bar.
*
ALBION: Walton; Hunt, Barclay, Dallison, Barnett; Monakana (Tilley 61), Molumby, Harris; Tighe, Akindayini (Kandi 76), Starkey.
SUBS NOT USED: Sanchez (GK), Cadman, Ward.
Original article