Tough break ends keeper’s season

Manchester United have confirmed that German goalkeeper Ron-Robert Zieler has broken a bone in his arm, an injury that will likely keep him out for the rest of the 2008/09 campaign.

Life after United: Ebanks-Blake crowned Championship Player of the Year

While we all love to see youngsters come through the ranks at United to make their mark on the Old Trafford stage and become first team stars, there’s also a definite satisfaction to be taken from seeing those who don’t quite make it with the Reds go on to lead successful and fulfilling careers in the game at other clubs. One such player is this season’s Football League Championship Player of the Year – Sylvan Ebanks-Blake.

Newcastle 3 United 3: Macheda treble earns Reds a point as Neville makes latest comeback

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Newcastle United Reserves	3-3	Manchester United Reserves

Xisco 43 (pen)	-	Macheda 13 (pen), 75, 89
Doninger 49	-	-
Guthrie 85	-	-

 
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s reserve side maintained second place in the Premier Reserve League North and kept their slim title hopes alive in a thrilling clash with Newcastle United at St. James Park… but only just! The Reds twice fought back from a goal behind in the second half with strikes from Kiko Macheda, the second of those coming with just a minute left on the clock and completing the 17 year-old Italian’s first reserve hattrick.

Macheda had earlier given United (of the Manchester variety for the purposes of this report) the lead from the penalty spot before goals from Spanish striker Xisco (also from the spot) and Mark Doninger either side of half-time had put the hosts 2-1 up. Macheda’s first equaliser looked to have earned the Reds at least a point but he had to do it all over again after former Red Danny Guthrie looked to have pinched all three for the Magpies in the dying minutes. The draw was fully deserved on United’s part, and there was further good news in the form of club captain Gary Neville getting almost an hour of football under his belt on the way back from injury.

U18s set for Italian Job

United’s academy side will be heading to Northern Italy next month to participate in the Torneo di Calcio Memorial Claudio Sassi.

Wednesday 2 United 2: U18s fail to make early dominance count

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Sheffield Wednesday U18s	2-2	Manchester United U18s

Wood 29	-	Moffatt 12
Palmer 66	-	Ajose 22

 
Despite dominating the first half, scoring twice and hitting the woodwork three times, United’s academy side were forced to settle for a draw this morning against their Sheffield Wednesday counterparts, who rallied well to get back into a game that looked like it could very quickly get away from them. On a morning that saw all four seasons pay a visit to Wednesday’s Middlewood Road ground and some almost unplayable conditions at times, the Reds took advantage of having the wind at their back and imposed themselves on the game early, Ollie Norwood and Cameron Stewart striking the frame of the goal before Scott Moffatt and then Nicky Ajose managed to find the net and give United a deserved lead. Sloppy defending from a set-piece gave the hosts a way back into the game before the break, and – with the conditions now in their favour – Wednesday made full use of that opportunity, grabbing an equaliser, and ultimately a share of the points, after a fine passing move caused havoc in the Reds’ backline.

Gary Woods joins Doncaster Rovers

Academy goalkeeper Gary Woods has left United to join Championship side Doncaster Rovers on a contract until the end of the 2009/10 season.

Boro 0 United 1: Eikrem strike earns Reserves third straight win

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Middlesbrough Reserves	0-1	Manchester United Reserves

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Eikrem 14

 
United’s second string extended their recent impressive run of form to eight wins from their last ten games with a fine victory over a Middlesbrough side packed with first-team experience. Ole Solskjaer’s side took an early lead when a somewhat fortuitously-won freekick was expertly converted by Magnus Eikrem, and thereafter put in a sterling defensive display to keep Afonso Alves and co. at bay. United’s trademark passing and movement produced some terrific football in the second half as the Reds by-and-large comfortably closed out a win that takes them second in the Premier Reserve League North table.

United 0 Sheff Utd 0: U18s draw blank against Blades

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Manchester United U18s	0-0	Sheffield United U18s

 
On a misty, murky morning at Carrington, these two sides served up a match in keeping with the conditions as United huffed and puffed but never really came near blowing the Sheffield United house down. With the Blades content to play on the break and increasingly happy to settle for a point as the match wore on, the Reds saw the vast majority of the possession but couldn’t break down the massed ranks in defence for the visitors. As it turned out, it was Sheffield United who came closest to troubling the scorers when Joe Smith’s shot a minute into the second half crashed against the crossbar.

United 4 Hull 0: Reserves tame the Tigers

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Manchester United Reserves	4-0	Hull City Reserves

Macheda 23 (pen)	-	-
Welbeck 30	-	-
Possebon 51	-	-
Martin 58	-	-

 
United’s reserves continued their recent impressive form as Hull City were brushed aside in emphatic fashion en route to the second four-goal romp of the week. A bright start by the visitors was nipped in the bud when Kiko Macheda converted a penalty awarded for a trip on Lee Martin. Danny Welbeck added a second on the half-hour after fine work by Rodrigo Possebon, and the Brazilian added a third in the second half to end any doubt over the destination of all three points. A superb fourth from Martin well and truly gave the Reds revenge for their defeat on Humberside earlier in the campaign and ensured Ole Solskjaer’s side remained in touch with the rest of the chasing pack in the Premier Reserve League North.

Rochdale 1 United 4: Fantastic Fábio fires Reds into LSC semis

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Rochdale Reserves	1-4	Manchester United Reserves

Reidy 17	-	Fábio 26, 41, 48, missed pen 21
-	-	Welbeck 58

 
United’s reserve side roared into the semi-finals of the Lancashire Senior Cup this afternoon after resoundingly beating Rochdale 4-1 at Spotland. The defending champions took a while to find their feet and fell behind early on to a Joe Reidy header, but that goal only served to spark the Reds into life as Fábio da Silva well and truly took centre-stage. When the little Brazilian left-back missed a penalty he had won shortly after the home side’s opener, he could have been forgiven for letting his head drop…. instead, he went and scored a hattrick, two predatory finishes from close range book-ending a sublime volley after some breathtaking build-up play. When Danny Welbeck made it four before the hour mark it looked like Ole Solskjaer’s side could rack up a cricket score, only some fine goalkeeping and wasteful finishing keeping the scoreline vaguely respectable for the home team as United booked a semi-final date with Preston North End.