United 5 Bury 0: Shakers shaken as Reds fire five

August 27th 2009, 7pm
Moss Lane, Altrincham

	–
Manchester United Reserves	5-0	Bury Reserves

Hewson 5	–	–
Macheda 31 (pen), 50	–	–
Stewart 36	–	–
Moffatt 70	–	–

 
United made an emphatic start to their bid to win the Manchester Senior Cup for a third consecutive year this evening, Bury the unfortunate side on the receiving end of a five-star showing from Ole Solskjaer’s Reserves at Moss Lane.

Sam Hewson picked up where he left off against Bolton on Monday night and handed the Reds a fifth-minute lead. Bury’s backline could have been forgiven at that point for thinking they were in for a long night, and so it proved as Kiko Macheda (twice), Cameron Stewart and Scott Moffatt all found the net and established a scoreline that barely reflected United’s dominance over the ninety minutes.

With the rare luxury of a big pool of players to choose from, Ole understandably made a number of changes to the side that took on Bolton three days ago. Indeed, only three players kept their places in the lineup – Craig Cathcart, David Gray and Ritchie de Laet, with the latter two changing position. Amongst the eight players coming in were Ron-Robert Zieler in goal, last week’s Lancashire Senior Cup matchwinner Kiko Macheda up front and an all-new midfield of Stewart, Corry Evans, Magnus Eikrem, Hewson and Ollie Norwood.

Any slight concerns that so many changes may prove disruptive were dismissed almost instantly. United’s superiority was apparent right from kick-off and that translated into an opening goal inside the first five minutes. A powerful and persistent surge forward from defence by de Laet – something that would be a feature of the match – eventually resulted in the Belgian finding Norwood 30 yards out, and as he drew his right leg back everyone expected the young Northern Ireland midfielder to shoot – not least the Bury defence. Instead, a wonderfully disguised reverse pass found the onrushing Hewson, who did well to get the ball out of his feet and prod it past Belford for his second goal in as many games.

Sam Hewson - on target for the second time this week

United didn’t really make the most of an early lead against Bolton on Monday but there was no danger of a repeat here. Bury were struggling to string passes together and escape their own half, and it looked only a matter of time before the Reds would add to their tally, Macheda in particular serving early notice of his goalscoring intentions with three efforts on goal inside the first half-hour. A combination of his radar being slightly off and good work from goalkeeper Belford frustrated him initially but he wasn’t to be denied for long – when skipper Evans was rather haplessly brought down, up stepped the young Italian to give the keeper the eyes and send him the wrong way with an ice-cool spot-kick.

Clearly full of confidence and in the knowledge that he had the beating of the Shakers’ defence, Kiko was in his element, some terrific skill down by the left corner flag delighting the crowd before more great work on the left flank brought a third goal. Right-back Barrow had no answer to the Roman striker’s powerful running and was unable to prevent a pinpoint cross that Stewart, boosted by his call-up to the England U19 squad, chested down expertly and gleefully lashed home.

The visitors were delighted to make it to the interval only three goals in arrears, while OGS was happy to take the opportunity to rest two of the survivors from Monday’s team for the second 45 minutes, sending on James Chester and Scott Moffatt in place of Craig Cathcart and David Gray. If Bury’s management team of Mike Sheron and Efe Sodje were hoping that the break or those substitutions would jolt United from their rhythm or that the Reds would show mercy, those hopes were resoundingly dashed just five minutes after the restart when Stewart returned the favour for Macheda, the former’s perfect far-post cross allowing the latter to thud a classic centre-forward’s header back across goal and past the despairing and overworked Belford.

That could have been the cue for the second string to ease off, but not a bit of it. Macheda predictably went in search of a hattrick and twice went close, while Evans, sub Matty James and de Laet on another roam forward all brought fine saves out of Bury’s 20 year-old stopper, who won the crowd over with a combination of fine goalkeeping and self-deprecating banter.

The XI out there in red shirts weren’t quite so charitable however and weren’t quite done making the Shakers’ #1 pick the ball out of the net either, although when the fifth goal did eventually come it was from perhaps the unlikeliest of sources. Stewart floated another cross in from the right, and when Norwood nodded the ball back across goal, up popped Moffatt from right-back to volley in United’s fifth and mark his competitive reserve debut with a goal. After nearly 18 hellish months of injury problems, it was a great moment for the Mancunian youngster.

It wasn’t for want of trying on United’s part but Bury escaped with just the five goals conceded, arguably a flattering result for the boys from Gigg Lane after a match that was never really in danger of being a genuine contest. With the teams being so mismatched it’s perhaps hard, and a little pointless, to single out individual performers for praise, but Macheda, Stewart and Eikrem all did little to detract from their burgeoning reputations.

STAR MAN: Magnus Eikrem – put on a terrific exhibition of long and short passing that the visitors couldn’t live with.

You can view highlights from the game here.

 
UNITED
1. Ron-Robert Zieler
2. David Gray (12. Scott Moffatt 46)
3. Joe Dudgeon
4. Corry Evans (c) (15. Matt James 65)
5. Craig Cathcart (14. James Chester 46)
6. Ritchie de Laet
7. Cameron Stewart
8. Sam Hewson
9. Federico Macheda
10. Magnus Eikrem
11. Oliver Norwood

Subs not used
13. Ben Amos

Bury: Belford, Barrow, Pugh, Brass, Jones, Thompson, Patel (c), J Rothwell, Hudson, Tosum, Harrop.
Subs: McGonigle, Crawshaw, Fradd, Z Rothwell, Tannahill.

Ref: J Mainwaring (Lancs)

Attendance: 302