Town's U18s started their FA Premier Academy league season with a disappointing 2-0 defeat to a strong Derby County side at Playford Road on Saturday morning. Caolan Lavery (pictured) missed a first-half penalty for Russell Osman's youngsters, after Josh Lelan had put the visitors ahead with Andy Dales securing the three points in the second half.
Town keeper Conor O'Donnell was forced into the first save of the game after five minutes when he got down well to prevent Callum Ball's left-foot effort finding the net.
O'Donnell made an even more impressive stop a few moments later when he acrobatically turned Ball's header over following a cross from Sam Berry on the left.
Derby were certainly on top and O'Donnell was called upon to deny Andy Dales on the quarter-hour mark before Town created their first real opportunity, with Mark Timlin cutting in from the right and hitting a tame left-foot shot straight at visiting keeper Mats Morch.
Dales saw another effort drift wide of O'Donnell's post before the Rams struck the woodwork on the half hour. A flick from Ball allowed Will Hughes to get past Jidé Maduako, but Hughes's effort rebounded off the post and the follow-up was deflected behind for a corner.
And from Dales's resultant corner, centre-back Josh Lelan beat O'Donnell to the ball and saw his flying header hit the back of the net.
The visitors continued to create the better opportunities and Berry played in right-back Chris Jones but O'Donnell made a good block to stop the visitors going further in front.
Somewhat against the run of play, Town then had a golden opportunity to level the scores on 39. Following a long ball over the visitors' defence, Caolan Lavery was brought down in the area by Stefan Galinski but the Northern Irish U21 international’s spotkick struck the bottom of the post before being cleared to safety.
The visitors broke and a lovely flowing move resulted in Berry dragging his left-foot shot across goal and wide.
The dangerous Berry then teed up Dales whose low shot also cannoned off the post, before the final action of the half saw Timlin again cut inside and hit a fierce shot that Morch did well to parry away.
Town started the second half brightly and a ball from Callum Bennett found Carel Tiofack on the right and although he put a dangerous ball across the box, Lavery couldn't quite reach it.
Ten minutes into the second period and the visitors scored a deserved second. Mason Bennett got the better of David October and Maduako on the right before setting up Dales who couldn't miss from two yards out.
The visitors were understandably happy to hold on to their two-goal lead and Town never really looked dangerous until the final few minutes when Lavery got the better of Lelan before squaring to sub Jack Simmons, but the Welsh U17 international scuffed his shot and it was comfortably gathered by Morch.
Deep into second half injury time, Town captain Callum Bennett was shown a straight red card for foul and abusive language.
Derby were a well-organised and strong outfit who will probably be one of the tougher opponents Town's youngsters will face this season. Summer recruit Gunnar Thorsteinsson impressed throughout at centre-half, but Town were generally second best in most areas of the pitch.
U18s: O'Donnell, Bennett, October, Jones, Maduako, Thorsteinsson, Timlin (Simmons 64), Leddy (Acott 64), Lavery, Lawrence, Tiofack (Marriott 70). Unused: Schroder, Meikle.
Report: James Ager