United 4 Newcastle 2: Free-scoring U18s bag another four in storming comeback

April 25th 2009, 12pm
Trafford Training Centre, Carrington

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Manchester United U18s	4-2	Newcastle United U18s

Norwood 3	-	Adjei 19
King 47	-	Inman 42
Eikrem 76	-	-
Wootton 84	-	-

 
United’s academy side scored four last weekend at Leeds, but also let four in at the other end. No such trade-off this afternoon at Carrington, as a terrific second half display saw Paul McGuinness’ side turn around a 2-1 deficit and pick up another four goal haul. In a rain-lashed first-half, Oliver Norwood’s freakish third minute strike gave the Reds an early lead, but goals from Samuel Adjei and Bradden Inman handed Newcastle a half-time lead that their performance in the first 45 had merited. A different United side emerged for a sunny and dry second half and dominated proceedings, equalising swiftly through sub Joshua King and adding further goals from Magnus Eikrem (an absolute stunner) and Scott Wootton as they moved within a point of securing second spot in Group C of the Premier Academy League.

United 1 Newcastle 1: Reserves frustrated as wonder-strike earns the Toon a point

April 23rd 2009, 7pm
Moss Lane, Altrincham

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Manchester United Reserves	1-1	Newcastle United Reserves

C. Evans 8	-	Danquah 19
Fábio missed pen 78	-	-

 
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s reserve side secured a top three finish in the Barclays Premier Reserve League North – with one game to go – at Moss Lane this evening, but saw a Newcastle wondergoal and a Fábio da Silva penalty miss frustrate their bid to clinch second place in the table. Corry Evans’ first goal of the season put the Reds into a deserved early lead, but United were rocked on their heels ten minutes later as, against the run of play, the visitors levelled things up thanks to a sensational strike from distance by Frank Wiafe Danquah.

Newcastle were unfortunate to see a perfectly good headed goal from Nile Ranger chalked off for a mysterious foul, but it was United who looked the more likely winners as the game wore on, and when Lee Martin was felled in the box by Ben Tozer with just over ten minutes remaining, they had their chance. Unfortunately, Fábio’s spot-kick was kept out by Tim Krul, and despite late chances for both sides, a winner wasn’t to be forthcoming.

Preston 0 United 4: Reserves turn on the second-half style en route to another final

April 20th 2009, 2pm
Deepdale, Preston

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Preston North End Reserves	0-4	Manchester United Reserves

-	-	Drinkwater 58
-	-	Martin 60
-	-	Ajose 75
-	-	James 84

 
United may have suffered semi-final heartbreak at Wembley yesterday, but no such fate or drama awaited the reserves today as a stirring second-half display saw them comfortably overcome Preston by four goals to nil on a beautifully sunny afternoon at Deepdale. After dominating a tepid first-half without overly threatening the Preston goal, the Reds found their shooting boots in the second half and simply overpowered a Lilywhites side who worked hard but were ultimately out of their depth.

Goals from Danny Drinkwater, Lee Martin, sub Nicky Ajose and an absolute screamer from Matt James sent Ole Solskjaer’s side through to a second consecutive LSC Final (against either Blackburn or Bolton) in some style, and there was further good news for Reds fans in the form of Wes Brown’s return to action after a long injury lay-off, the England defender completing nearly an hour at right-back.

Possebon to join Macheda and Petrucci in the Azzurini ranks?

United’s (hitherto) Brazilian midfielder Rodrigo Possebon has been called up by Italy Under-20 coach Francesco Rocca for next week’s friendly between the Azzurini and Germany in Milan.

Leeds 4 United 4: Honours even as fierce rivals play out eight-goal thriller

April 18th 2009, 11am
Thorp Arch, Leeds

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Leeds United U18s	4-4	Manchester United U18s

Hatfield 12 (pen), 69	-	Wootton 3
Watson 37	-	Brady 53
Jones 86	-	King 61
-	-	Tunnicliffe 83

 
It wasn’t a game that the defenders and goalkeepers involved will look back upon fondly, but everyone else was treated to a terrific spectacle at Thorp Arch this morning as United’s U18s and their hosts Leeds shared eight goals in a feisty, thrilling encounter. The Reds took an early lead through Scott Wootton’s header but found themselves trailing 2-1 at the break as the home side took control, Will Hatfield (from the penalty spot) and Adam Watson finding the target.

Some deft substitutions from Paul McGuinness saw United turn the game on its head again early in the second half, Robbie Brady’s freekick drawing them level before Joshua King put the finishing touches to a great team move to put the Reds ahead. Some good fortune with the bounce of the ball saw the sides exchange goals, Hatfield first equalising for Leeds before Ryan Tunnicliffe got what he hoped would be the winner seven minutes from time. That wasn’t to be though, Sam Jones curling home a terrific free-kick three minutes later to earn his side a share of the points – a deserved outcome after a terrifically entertaining match.

United 2 Everton 0: Unbeaten run continues as Reserves stroll to fifth straight home win

April 16th 2009, 7pm
Moss Lane, Altrincham

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Manchester United Reserves	2-0	Everton Reserves

Drinkwater 9	-	-
de Laet 17	-	-

 
United’s reserves extended their current unbeaten record in all competitions (home and away) to eight games and moved back into second place in the Premier Reserve League North with a thoroughly convincing 2-0 victory against their Everton counterparts at Moss Lane this evening. Early goals from Danny Drinkwater – officially his first of the season – and Ritchie de Laet – his first for United – stunned Everton, and by half-time it really should have been four or five, Zoran Tošić hitting the bar twice amongst a number of other chances for the Reds. The visitors came into the game late on with first-team striker James Vaughan looking dangerous, but the result of the match was never really in doubt.

Thorpe and Keane help England to Montaigu glory

United schoolboys Tom Thorpe and Will Keane were both key members of the England U16 side as the Three Lions successfully defended their Montaigu Tournament title this Easter weekend.

Timely Tunnicliffe on target as Reds take home the trophy

 
In time-honoured MUFC fashion, a last-minute goal in the final from substitute midfielder Ryan Tunnicliffe has seen United’s youngsters triumph in Maranello, winners of the 2009 Torneo di Calcio Memorial Claudio Sassi.

Kiko Macheda – Instant Stretford End hero

12 months ago to the day, Federico Macheda was scoring the opener in a 1-1 draw for United’s Under-18s in the illustrious surroundings of Sheffield United’s Shirecliffe academy complex. A year on, in front of over 75,000 fans at Old Trafford, the 17 year-old Roman has just lived every Red’s dream.

United 2 Boro 0: Norwood double makes the difference

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Manchester United U18s	2-0	Middlesbrough U18s

Norwood 5, 29

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A first-half brace from captain Oliver Norwood was enough this afternoon to earn United’s U18s a first home win since January. Paul McGuinness’ side had much the better of the first half and, like last week, turned that early superiority into goals, with Norwood making an early breakthrough via an extremely helpful deflection. The skipper’s second goal was all his own work, a beautifully-struck freekick from 25 yards out that gave the goalkeeper no chance. Unlike last week though, the Reds this time held onto their lead. The visitors had the better of things after the break but wasted the few genuine chances that came their way, and otherwise struggled to break down a resolute United rearguard.