United 1 Liverpool 1 (Liverpool win 4-3 on pens): Reds robbed as shoot-out setback ends LSC reign

October 29th 2009, 7pm
Moss Lane, Altrincham

	-
Manchester United Reserves	1-1	Liverpool Reserves

Tošić 72

-

Eccleston 29

 
LIVERPOOL WIN 4-3 ON PENALTIES

Macheda SCORED	-	Irwin SCORED
Brandy SCORED	-	Ayala SCORED
Tošić SCORED	-	Mavinga SCORED
James MISSED	-	Eccleston SCORED
de Laet MISSED	-	-

 
 
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s reserve side were left rueing the ineptitude of the officials and their own profligacy in front of goal as defeat – via a penalty shoot-out – to arch-rivals Liverpool at Moss Lane ended their hopes of a third successive Lancashire Senior Cup triumph.

Behind at the break through Nathan Eccleston’s well-taken (if a little fortuitous) strike, the Reds had nevertheless controlled the game and eventually got themselves level thanks to a terrific freekick from substitute Zoran Tošić. United’s Serbian winger was then clearly felled in the box, but instead of having a chance to win the tie with one well-earned spot-kick in normal time, the reigning champs had to endure the lottery of a shoot-out, where Liverpool ‘keeper Dean Bouzanis was the hero with decisive saves from Matt James and Ritchie de Laet.

Amos heads out on loan as Ferguson Jnr calls in a favour

United’s England Under-20 goalkeeper Ben Amos has joined Peterborough United on a one-month emergency loan deal.

Wolves 2 United 2: Petrucci returns to help Reds pick up a point

October 24th 2009, 11am
Sir Jack Hayward Training Ground, Wolverhampton

	-
Wolverhampton Wanderers U18s	2-2	Manchester United U18s

Spray 7	-	Brady 30
Rooney 10, missed pen 26	-	Ajose 89

 
For the second time already in this fledgling season, United’s academy side produced a spirited comeback and a late late equaliser to salvage a 2-2 draw in a tough away game. Having done so at Leeds from 2-1 down earlier in the campaign, they had to go one better at the Sir Jack Hayward training ground on Saturday morning, rallying after going 2-0 down inside the first ten minutes to goal from forwards James Spray and Nathan Rooney.

With less than half an hour played, Paul McGuinness’ U18s were staring down the barrel of a resounding defeat, with home side Wolves presented with a chance to make it three from the penalty spot and arguably put the game out of sight for the visiting Reds, who looked decidedly shaky at the back. Rooney was foiled by Conor Devlin however, and United seized the lifeline offered to them, Robbie Brady pulling one back before the break with a trademark freekick before Nicky Ajose, latching onto a throughball from the returning Davide Petrucci, earned his side an extremely hard-earned point with a great finish ninety seconds from time.

United 3 Blackburn 0: Reserves outclass Rovers to regain top spot

October 22nd 2009, 7pm
Moss Lane, Altrincham

	-
Manchester United Reserves	3-0	Blackburn Rovers Reserves

Eikrem 18	-	-
Brandy 80	-	-
Tošić 90+1	-	-

 
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s Reserves kept up their 100% home record and moved back to the summit of the Premier Reserve League North this evening by defeating their Blackburn Rovers counterparts 3-0 at Moss Lane.

United were good value for the win, but were made to wait until the final ten minutes of the game to clinch all three points and give the scoreline some gloss. Magnus Eikrem’s superb 18th minute freekick had given the Reds an early lead, but despite proceeding to dominate the remainder of the match, it wasn’t until Febian Brandy rose highest to head home a Zoran Tošić corner on 80 minutes that the points were made safe. Tošić then rounded things off nicely with a well-struck effort from 20 yards inside injury time.

United 3 City 0: Keane treble ends Reds’ mini-derby hoodoo

October 17th 2009, 11am
Trafford Training Centre, Carrington

	-
Manchester United U18s	3-0	Manchester City U18s

W Keane 4, 27, 42

-

-

 
After four successive defeats to their cross-city rivals and three games without a win in the Academy League this season, United put a convincing end to both of those unwanted sequences at Carrington this morning with a 3-0 win over City, all the damage being done by the left foot of Will Keane, who made it four goals in two games with a clinical first-half hattrick.

After a frustrating start to the season in front of goal, Keane grabbed United’s consolation in injury time at Crewe last week and that seems to have got him up and running. The Stockport-born forward gave the Reds the lead inside four minutes, tucking home a loose ball in predatory fashion, before repeating the trick just before the half-hour mark, both times via unknowing assists from Ryan Tunnicliffe. Some fine work from Robbie Brady on the left and a crisp volleyed finish gave the 16 year-old and his side a decisive third goal just before the break, and Paul McGuinness’ side cruised through the second half largely untroubled to record a welcome derby victory.

Oldham 0 United 3: Obertan makes Reds debut in MSC stroll

October 12th 2009, 7pm
Ewen Fields, Hyde

	-
Oldham Athletic Reserves	0-3	Manchester United Reserves

-	-	Brandy 21
-	-	Hewson 22
-	-	King 90+2

 
It would be fair to say United’s defence of the Manchester Senior Cup hasn’t been unduly challenging so far. Resounding 5-0 victors in the opening round-robin match against Bury, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side made it two from two at Hyde United’s Ewen Fields ground tonight with a comfortable 3-0 win over a game but ultimately outclassed Oldham Athletic.

The result was never in doubt once the Reds netted twice in as many minutes midway through the first half through Febian Brandy and Sam Hewson, and substitute Joshua King added some gloss to the scoreline in stoppage time at the end of the game with a fine goal on the counter attack. Further plus points for those of a United persuasion came in the form of the comebacks from injury of Rafael da Silva and summer signing Gabriel Obertan, who made his first appearance in the red shirt.

Crewe 2 United 1: Under-18s are dominant but defeated as Pogba makes debut

October 10th 2009, 11am
Gresty Road, Crewe

	-
Crewe Alexandra U18s	2-1	Manchester United U18s

Oswell 48, 66

-

W. Keane 90

 
It’ll take some time for Paul McGuinness and his young charges to work out exactly how they contrived to lose at Gresty Road this morning. In essence the answer is a relatively simple one – they struggled to create genuine chances and couldn’t convert the ones they did engineer, while their opponents Crewe Alexandra had no such problems. Nonetheless, to lose a game after dominating possession and territory to the extent the Reds did today and still fall to defeat is a definite headscratcher.

United had by far the best of a scoreless first-half but were caught cold early in the second 45 as Crewe’s big #9 Jason Oswell glanced home a devilish cross, and while McGuinness’ side continued to dominate and probe for goals of their own, they were caught by another sucker punch with 25 minutes remaining as Oswell bagged his second in spectacular fashion. The young Reds battled on gamely but were frustrated by Crewe’s resolute backline and the excellent Daniel Platt in goal, only eventually making a breakthrough in injury time through Will Keane, whose tap-in was ultimately merely a consolation goal.

Pogba finally free to play

One of the year’s most drawn-out and bitter transfer wrangles has moved one step closer to being finally sorted out after FIFA this week authorised the FA to register Paul Pogba as a Manchester United player, effective immediately.

International bright young things

As large numbers of the senior squad head off on World Cup qualifying duty for the last time this cycle, there’s the usual slew of callups for the youngsters at United, including a surprising first Northern Ireland callup for English-born Joe Dudgeon. All the details after the jump…

Reds to run rule over Port Vale keeper

18 year-old Port Vale goalkeeper Daniel Lloyd-Weston is to join United for a two-game trial.