A win to end the Summer Showdown

The Summer Showdown ended on a high note for Derby as they got their first victory with a 4-3 win over Worcester.

With both sides yet to win before the match, there was a lot to play for.

The first half started cagey, both sides not letting each other get the better of them. The first chance fell to Liam Hunt in the third minute, stealing the ball inside the Worcester half and making the keeper, Leon Reece produce a solid save.

Five minutes later Derby took the lead. An old school partnership was reignited as Matt Richardson and Manny Freeman linked up well as they have done on so many occasions in the past to open the scoring. Richardson with the layoff to Freeman who finished well into the corner.

In a matter of minutes, the game was level. An unfortunate goal to concede for Derby against the run of play. The ball was flashed across goal and a cruel defection left Jez Poulson helpless.

A much more eventful second half began, chances for both sides fell in a matter of seconds. In the 26th minute, Sam Huntingdon cannoned the ball against the post. Immediately followed by a Worcester attack but Poulson was there once again to pull off a wonderful save.

Derby retook the lead in the 28th minute. A moment of magic from Huntingdon made the goal. An exquisite pass cutting open Worcester’s defence fell to Tom Gascoyne’s feet and he finished low past the keeper.

A battling Worcester equalised for the second time in the match with Dale Richards scoring low from a free-kick past an unsighted Poulson in the 34th minute.

A crazy final minute started with arguably the man of the match Charlie Marzano firing a volley into the net to cap off an impressive performance with a minute to go. In a matter of 20 seconds, Worcester equalised for the third time. A shot blocked deflected into the air, with an open net to aim at Joe Brett would have found it harder to miss.

For the fourth and final time, Derby took the lead as Marzano was involved again playing the pass across the face of goal to a Huntingdon who was in space to tap the ball in to secure a hard-fought first win of the tournament to leave the team in high spirits, ahead of a big pre-season and return to league action.