**Derby County Under-18s were beaten 2-0 by Newcastle United in the U18 Premier League Cup on Saturday afternoon.**
Jack Skelton opened the scoring for the hosts in the first half before Alfie Hutchinson doubled Newcastle's advantage from the penalty spot after the interval.
The Rams created several opportunities throughout the contest, while goalkeeper Arlo Tye produced several impressive saves to keep Derby in the game.
Key Moments
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The opening stages were competitive, with both sides committing a number of early fouls before Derby created the first opportunity.
Max Nessling tested Newcastle goalkeeper George Mair in the eighth minute, with his right-footed effort forcing a save down to the goalkeeper's bottom-left corner.
Newcastle responded four minutes later when Jack Skelton tried his luck with his left foot, although his effort failed to trouble Tye in the Derby goal.
Skelton came close again in the 15th minute when a free kick was delivered into the area and found the forward, but his header failed to find the target.
The hosts continued to threaten, with Alfie Hutchinson firing an effort towards goal in the 18th minute, although Tye was not called into action.
Nessling had another opportunity at the other end shortly afterwards, but once again his effort failed to seriously test Mair.
Newcastle took the lead in the 21st minute when Muawiya Ghanem broke forward before finding Skelton inside the penalty area.
The forward kept his composure this time, producing a composed left-footed finish to put the hosts ahead.
Derby responded well to falling behind and continued to look for an equaliser.
Simeon Fearon came closest in the 36th minute when he tried his luck from distance, but his effort flew over the crossbar.
The Rams continued to push for an equaliser towards the end of the half, earning a number of corners and free kicks, although they were unable to create a clear opportunity.
Nessling came closest when he received the ball on the right side of the penalty area before striking towards goal, but his effort sailed over the crossbar.
Newcastle started the second half strongly and immediately put pressure on the Derby defence.
Substitute Sam Pennington forced an excellent reflex save from Tye in the 51st minute when he struck from distance.
Nessling was shown a yellow card three minutes later after referee Ryan Moore deemed the Derby forward to have simulated inside the Newcastle penalty area.
The hosts continued to test Tye, with Hutchinson forcing another save from close range in the 56th minute.
Derby created their first real opportunity of the second half shortly afterwards when Troy Ogedengbe found space inside the penalty area, but his effort was struck straight at Mair.
Newcastle immediately went up the other end and were awarded a penalty after Hutchinson was brought down by Kacey Myers following a quick break.
Hutchinson stepped up from 12 yards and calmly converted the spot-kick to double Newcastle's advantage.
The Magpies continued to threaten in search of a third, with Pennington dragging an effort narrowly wide from outside the area in the 67th minute.
The forward went close again moments later with an effort from an angle, but once again failed to find the target.
Pennington continued to cause problems and forced another reflex save from Tye in the 70th minute, with the Derby goalkeeper keeping his side within touching distance.
Derby looked to find a way back into the contest during the closing stages, with substitute Zacharia Van Der Graaf coming close in the 83rd minute.
The forward's left-footed effort from outside the box drifted narrowly wide of the post.
Myers was shown a second Derby yellow card a minute later following a strong challenge on Theo Benjamin.
Tye continued to keep the scoreline down in the final stages, producing another close-range save to deny Charlie Robinson.
The Derby goalkeeper was called into action again moments later, diving low to his right to keep out Jack Patterson's driven effort.
Despite Tye's late efforts, the Rams were unable to find a way back into the contest as Newcastle secured a 2-0 victory in the U18 Premier League Cup.
Team
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**Derby County Under-18s:** Tye (GK), Connor (C), Thomas, Myers, Wilson (Taylor 48'), Griffiths, Clarke (Nyamdavaa, 76'), Lukic, Olofingbuaro (Van Der Graaf 48'), Fearon (Ogedengbe 48'), Nessling (Onwukwe, 76').
**Unused substitutes:** Mountain (GK), Neal.
**_Words:_** _Josh Page_