Derby County Under-18s progressed to the Fourth Round of the 2025/26 FA Youth Cup with a 3-0 victory at Cambridge United on Wednesday evening.
The Rams navigated their way through what was a tricky Third Round tie thanks to two first-half goals from Israel Green and a second half finish from James Ward to set up a Fourth Round clash away to Manchester United.
Cambridge, who are currently sit top of the EFL Youth Alliance South with ten wins and a draw from 11 matches, went into the tie unbeaten this season and had stormed through the opening rounds of this season’s FA Youth Cup to set up the tie with the Rams.
They had recorded back-to-back 4-0 victories against Slough Town and then Tiverton Town in the First and Second rounds respectively.
Derby, meanwhile, are 10th in Under-18 Premier League - North and have had a mixed bag of results so far this term.
Green put the Rams ahead inside the opening ten minutes from close range to net his third goal of the season.
The frontman didn’t have to wait long to take his tally for the campaign to four goals as he cut inside from out wide and thundered a strike into the top corner to put the Rams firmly in control of the tie.
The home side pushed for a way back into the tie as the first half unfolded, but the Rams managed the game well to go in two goals to the good at the interval.
Cambridge continued to press forward early in the second period and goalkeeper Cristiano Dzialuk was forced into a couple of saves before the hour mark to maintain the Rams’ two-goal advantage.
Ward put Derby three goals to the good just after the hour mark with his third goal of the season so far, volleying in off the woodwork with a composed finish.
No further goals followed in the final half-hour, with the Rams cruising to a comfortable victory on the road and seal a trip to Old Trafford in January 2026.
Derby County Under-18s: Dzialuk (GK), K Gordon, Stokes, Crolla, Canoville (C), K Gill, Corry, Harvey, Ward, Smith, Green.
Substitutes: Mountain (GK), Taylor, Connor, Nessling, K Clarke, Blake, Doyle.
Next Fixture
The Under-18s will hit the road once again for their final outing of 2025 when they travel to Liverpool in Premier League - North on Saturday 13th December (12pm kick-off).
Pictures: Cambridge United Football Club.