Albion go top of Premier League 2 as Rams beaten

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Goals from Remiero Moulton and Yussif Owusu secure win over Derby.

Charlie Hanson

2024-10-25T21:29+01:00

Yussif Owusu put Albion in front with 20 minutes to play in the first half. 📷 by James Boardman.

Albion went top of Premier League 2 on Friday night thanks to a 2-1 win over Derby County.

The Rams took the lead after 17 minutes at the American Express Elite Football Performance Centre, but were pegged back by Remiero Moulton's smart finish.

The turnaround was complete midway through the second half when substitute Yussif Owusu struck from close range.

West Ham's late defeat to Wolves means that Albion's victory put them a point clear at the summit of Premier League 2.

Looking to fire Albion top of the table were Wales under-18 striker Joe Belmont - making his first appearance for the under-21s - who spearheaded a front three alongside Remiero Moulton and Sahil Bashir, all of whom were regulars for our under-18s last season.

It was the Rams who would open the scoring though as Alex Stepien-Iwumene showed good instincts to poke home at the far post after Steven Hall palmed away Cruz Allen’s cross.

Remiero Moulton showed a cool head to find the bottom corner after a defensive error by the visitors. 📷 by James Boardman.

Belmont couldn’t get on the end of Harry Mills’s dangerous cross to level, but Albion found an equaliser in the 30th minute. The Derby defence gifted possession to Moulton 25 yards from goal and the forward made no mistake as he buried the ball in the bottom right corner.

Albion were then inches away from taking the lead just before the half-time whistle when skipper Ruairi McConville headed towards goal, but his effort was cleared off the line.

Ruairi McConville's header came close to putting Albion in front just before half-time. 📷 by James Boardman.

Jacob Slater was unable to find the net himself when he curled an effort onto the roof of the net with 25 minutes to play, but he did play a pivotal role in Albion taking the lead.

The former Preston defender's corner found McConville who passed to substitute Owusu to smash in from close range.

Albion should have put the contest out of sight with ten to go as they combined terrifically to break into the Derby box, but Caylan Vickers was denied with an incredible block on the goal-line and Moulton couldn't keep the follow up down.

Remiero Moulton runs to get the ball out of the back of the net after equalising for Albion. 📷 by James Boardman.

McConville pulled off a terrific last ditch tackle on Manni Ilesanmi as the forward burst into the box and looked to pull the trigger from a favourable angle, but Albion were otherwise solid as they ensured they took all three points.

The Albion team: Hall, McConville, Penman, Slater, Ifill, Albarus, Mullins (Owusu 68), Mills (J Vickers 88), Moulton, Bashir (C Vickers 60), Belmont (Duffus 60).