Derby County Under-18s ended their 2022/23 campaign with a 3-0 victory against Middlesbrough at Pride Park Stadium.
Jaydan Davidson’s stunning first-half strike put the young Rams ahead before second-half penalties from Dajaune Brown and Bayo Fapetu put the result beyond doubt.
It's a third consecutive win for Jake Buxton's side, seeing them leapfrog Boro into seventh place and end the season five games unbeaten.
The Rams started the match on the front foot as Tristan Gill fired an effort into the side netting following a good move.
Derby’s next chance came in the 20th minute after Harry Hawkins won possession and found Brown, who was denied by a smart save from Nathan Fisher.
Fisher then saved Callum Moore’s header after Fapetu had crossed from a free-kick.
But the visiting goalkeeper was helpless when Davidson found the top left corner from outside the box five minutes before half-time to make it 1-0.
Boro began to look more threatening after the restart as substitute Charlie Lennon and Aidan Bridge saw efforts saved by Jack Thompson.
That was until Fisher fouled Brown inside the box, resulting in a penalty for the Rams.
Brown took responsibility and converted the spot-kick into the bottom right corner to double Derby’s advantage.
Davidson came close to making it 3-0 in the 84th minute when he headed wide following Farren Simons’ cross.
Bridge almost pulled one back for Middlesbrough late on before the referee awarded Derby another penalty after Oliver Samuels fouled Simons.
Fapetu stepped up and slotted the ball into the bottom left corner, making it a resounding win for the Rams.
Derby County Under-18s: Thompson (GK), Moore, Fapetu, Aideyan, Gill, D Robinson (C) (K Robinson 68), Hawkins, Perry (Nesbitt 68), Wheeldon (Eames 53), Brown (Simons 79), Davidson.
Substitute Not Used: Shattell (GK).
Words: Dale Winfield
