DESPITE taking a first half lead through Danny Hawkins, a strong Boro side couldn't hold on as Derby levelled after the interval in a keenly contested 1-1 draw at Rockliffe, writes SHAUN WILSON.

Boro created the first chance after just six minutes when Cameron Park slid a pass to Kyle Oliver who saw his shot saved by the keeper.

James Gray went close a few minutes later but his shot whisteld wide of the post. On 15 minutes, after a spell of concerted pressure, a left-wing corner from Cameron Park found Derrick Bassi, but he couldn't get the power he needed and his header looped over the crossbar.

The home side took the lead when a great knock from Oni Roushias found Gray, whose first time ball put Danny Hawkins in through the left channel. Hawkins advanced into the area and finished with aplomb at the near post. A minute later Park went on a jinking run reminiscent of Adam Johnson, but unfortunately saw his strong left foot shot clear the bar.

Derby nearly got back into the game on the half-hour mark, when a scramble in the box saw Rams' centre-half Chris Jones prod it towards goal, only to see Boro full-back Phil Shead clear his lines. This found Kieran Edwards racing down the left wing and defence immediately turned to attack.

However, his cross only found a Rams' head and the danger was cleared. Boro were starting to gain the upper hand as strong but fair tackles started to fly in from both sides.

On 31 minutes a Gray cross found Hawkins, whose header was saved and from the rebound the centre-forward tried an acrobatic overhead kick but the shot was blocked. The last piece of action in the half saw Boro keeper Adam Smith cannon a clearance against his own player, Edwards, but fortunately the ball went wide of the post.

Half time: Boro U18s 1 Derby County U18s 0

Boro continued to press and another Park corner saw a strong header from Roushias, but the effort was saved.

After 51 minutes a surging run down the right from Marinos Andreou saw the Cypriot youth international run half the length of the pitch to send in a fine shot which was saved by the Derby keeper. From the resulting corner, the ball came out to Gray on the right wing. His looping cross cannoned off the crossbar with the keeper desperately scrambling back.

Paul Weldon was next to try his luck but again saw his right-foot shot saved. A raft of substitutions followed with Brobbel, Dolan and Wyke all coming on, for Andreou, Hawkins and Park respectively. On 79 minutes Boro very nearly extended their lead when a great volleyed pass from Edwards put Charlie Wyke through but his shot went wide.

On 82 minutes Boro were left to rue their missed chances when a Derby corner saw Chris Jones put powerfully into the Boro goal.

The last minute saw chances for both teams. First a great free-kick from Edwards found Bassi but his header went wide. Then with nearly the last kick of the game Derby almost snatched the winner when a teasing cross just eluded striker Callum Ball and the ball went wide.

Boro: Smith; Shead, Weldon (capt), Oliver, Bassi, Gray, Andreou (Brobbel 60), K Edwards, Roushias, Hawkins (Dolan 57), Park (Wyke 65). Unused subs: Ripley (gk); Atkinson.

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