Aston Manor 
Aston Villa Football Academy match report – vs Derby County AWAY 30/09/20
Wednesday 30th September
Much anticipated first game back for the football academy against Derby County this week, the majority of the lads have not had a competitive for six months due to national lockdown. The lads have been training hard with new Aston Villa coaches Nigel and Callum and have been really looking forward to their first game.
The game as a whole was very one sided, with a much stronger Aston Villa side, with a mix of year 12 and 13 students. A great start by new year 12 striker Corey, getting put through for a one on one in less than 2 minutes, slotting home past the Derby goalkeeper to put Villa 1-0 up. Great start!
Possession for Villa continued throughout the first half and after 20 minutes a great run by year 13 Hariz, playing in a new position this season as a left winger of a 5-man midfield, he beat the Derby County right back and cleverly reversed passed the ball deceiving the opposition defence allowing right winger Lewis to drive the ball home to put Villa 2-0 up. Strong start and looking very comfortable.
38 minutes in and a wicked cross into the box by Lewis from the right wing towards the centre of the box, centre midfielder Josh with a great timed run into the box, rose and scored with a glancing header, Derby County goalkeeper, no chance! 3-0 Villa.
Half time Aston Villa 3 Derby County 0
Derby started on the front foot for the first 5 minutes of the second half and were rewarded for their efforts after 48 minutes, a nice crossed in ball from the right side was flicked in past Aston Villa goalkeeper Jack Richards into the bottom right hand corner of the goal by the Derby County centre midfielder. 3-1 Villa.
Straight after the restart Aston Villa again gained the upper hand and in the 51st minute a second clever reverse pass by Hariz played in substitute striker Dan who slotted home right past the goalkeeper. 4-1 Villa. A second goal followed for Dan in the 73rd minute after a 20-yard strike by Lewis was brilliantly palmed onto the crossbar by the Derby County goalkeeper, this was followed up and slotted home by Dan, nothing the goalkeeper could have done. 5-1 Villa.
Only took a few minutes more for Corey to get his second goal, in the 78th minute a well hit driven strike in off the crossbar after a great deep run by left back Darmarnick. 6-1 Villa.
The game was finished off in the 88 minute with a driven shot by Lewis after some more great work by left back Darmarnick, who made a driving run with the ball down the left side. 7-1 Villa.
First league game back and some new faces, what a great win.
Aston Villa 7 Derby County 1.
Next up, West Bromwich Albion for the 1st team in the league and Redditch Utd in a friendly for the 2nd team on Wednesday 7th October.
Mr Connell
