Carr brace earns sixth straight league win
Daniel Carr was back on the score sheet to help Town’s Development Squad earn its sixth straight league victory at home to Derby
The striker netted a first half brace to see off the Rams, who scored a consolation through 17 year-old Mason Bennett.
Town’s opener was slightly against the run of play after the visitors had started brightly; Kwame Thomas fired wide after good play from Michael Jacobs. Carr’s first goal was courtesy of good play from Paul Mullin and Tom Smith with the latter cutting the ball across goal for the former Dulwich Hamlet man to tap home.
Adam Clayton hit a free-kick just wide before Town doubled its advantage on 26 minute. The same two in Smith and Carr combined, with Dale Hopson also adding a bit of quality to allow the young striker the chance to grab his second.
The Terriers’ tempo dropped after the second and allowed Derby – and Michael Jacobs – to grow into the game.
The former Northampton midfielder began to have a big impact on the game in the second half as he saw goal bound efforts blocked by Jake Carroll and Tommy Smith. He also hit wide narrowly as Town struggled to keep Derby at bay.
Carr had Town’s best chance to extend the lead when he blocked Mats Morch’s clearance and hooked wide, but it was Derby who were next to score.
Captain Valentine Gjokaj played a superb ball into the path of Mason Bennett who raced in on goal and smashed a shot past his namesake at the near post.
Duane Holmes had a good chance to make it three with twenty minutes to go, but it was Derby who looked the more likely to score with Callum Ball having a shot superbly blocked by substitute James Burke.
Ball had the best chance of them all to level matters with six minutes to go, but he hit straight at Bennett after being put in the clear by Mason Bennett.
Town held on for the win, though, to extend its lead at the top of the U21 Professional Development League 2 to at least six points.
Town’s team (4-4-2):
Ian Bennett; Jake Carroll, Murray Wallace, Anthony Gerrard (James Burke, 60), Tommy Smith; Duane Holmes (Robbie McIntyre, 87), Adam Clayton, Jordan Sinnott, Dale Hopson; Daniel Carr, Paul Mullin (Jake Charles, 80)
Unused substitutes:
Ed Wilczynski, Ben Holmes