Derby County’s Football and Education students put in a stern and determined display in the EFL CEFA Central Division One this afternoon, taking all three points from Macclesfield with a 2-1 victory in an energetic game.

The Silkmen were unbeaten and hadn’t conceded during their three league fixtures so far, but were picking the ball out of the back of the net just two minutes into the encounter with the Rams, as Derby’s number nine and player of the match Blaine curled home a beautiful effort from the edge of the area.

Derby were then on the backfoot for most of the first half at Friesland School, but showed grit and determination to throw themselves at everything Macclesfield offered – good hands from the home keeper on the half hour denied the visitors.

The second half followed a similar pattern to the first as Macclesfield came out of the traps the brighter side, a solid sliding challenge from Derby’s number eight denied the Silkmen a shot on target – the resulting corner saw Macclesfield fire wide much to the home defence's relief.

Derby then had a fine opportunity to double their lead on 53 minutes, striking the bottom of the post from thirty yards as the Rams’ number ten hit a low free kick.

The incoming storm was a sign of things to come as the game heated up with two goals in as many minutes swaying the tie one way and then the other.

Derby failed to clear their lines on 58 minutes to allow the Macclesfield man to drill the ball into the bottom corner, but the Rams fought back straight from the ensuing kick off, driving forward with the Rams' number ten this time finding the back of the net with a well hit strike.

The final stages of the game saw the game get an ill-tempered taste as both sides saw a player sent off, however once play resumed – safe hands from the Derby keeper in the final ten minutes denied the visitors an equaliser.

Macclesfield should have secured a point in the final second of play as a cross from deep found the unmarked number four up from the back – however his free header went off target as the referee called time on the match, securing three points for the Rams.

Adam Jones, Education Support, said:

“It was a great performance from the lads in terms of work rate out of possession.

“We knew it would be a tough game, it was a soft goal to concede but the resilience to come back and score straight away just shows the character what they’ve got – they deserve the victory today, they worked so hard.”

Elsewhere for Derby’s other Football and Education sides in action this afternoon, in Central Division Two, Wolverhampton Wanderers edged the battle of the top two with a 4-3 victory, whilst in the North Central Women’s division Derby secured their third win of the season – beating Sheffield United Women 3-1.

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