U18s set for title tilt

Hot on the heels of the Reserves clinching their league title ten days ago, Paul McGuinness’ U18s will be looking to follow suit tomorrow morning as they travel to Bolton knowing that a win will see them crowned champions of Premier Academy League Group C.

Zieler to return home with Hannover

United’s German goalkeeper Ron-Robert Zieler has agreed to join Bundesliga club Hannover 96 on a two-year deal.

Reserves: Burnley 0 United 1 – Clarets KO’d by late Cole goal

April 29th 2010, 7pm
Turf Moor, Burnley

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Burnley Reserves	0-1	Manchester United Reserves

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Cole 90+1

 
United’s Reserves wrapped up their 2009/10 league programme in fitting style as a late late goal from Larnell Cole secured a 1-0 win over Burnley at Turf Moor.

After 90 rainy and goalless minutes in a game that certainly lived up to its billing as an end-of-season dead rubber, some slick football from the Reds and a wonderfully composed finish by Cole saw the champions grab all three points, rounding off the campaign on a high and boosting confidence ahead of Monday’s Premier Reserve League playoff against Aston Villa.

U18s: City 2 United 3 – Reds roar back to inflict more derby despair

April 27th 2010, 11am
Platt Lane Training Complex, Manchester

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Manchester City U18s	2-3	Manchester United U18s

Benali 23	-	Pogba 60
Bunn 27	-	King 75, 90

 
As if three injury time winners at first-team level this season weren’t enough, United’s U18s followed in the footsteps of their senior counterparts by breaking Manchester City hearts with yet another last gasp strike to take all three points at Platt Lane.

Things had looked bleak for the Reds in this rearranged fixture after some atrocious first-half defending handed the hosts a 2-0 lead at the break, but Paul McGuinness’ side have already shown this season that all is not lost in such a situation and duly mounted a stirring comeback. Paul Pogba’s majestic goal on the hour mark gave United hope and belief and a brace from Joshua King, the latter coming just after the game had moved into injury time, gave the young Reds a sensational victory. As if completing a rare double over City at this level wasn’t reward enough, the three points were also enough to move the Reds within touching distance of the Academy League Group C title.

Reserves: Wigan 1 United 0 – Youthful reserves lose to the Latics

April 26th 2010, 7pm
Robin Park, Wigan

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Wigan Athletic Reserves	1-0	Manchester United Reserves

Kupisz 63

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After a previously unbeaten 2010, United’s Reserves followed last week’s cup exit at the hands of Manchester City with a second successive defeat, losing 1-0 to Wigan after being forced to play the second half with just ten men.

While the defeat to City came after a disappointingly lacklustre performance, a slightly makeshift United XI acquitted themselves much more respectably at Robin Park and were unfortunate to end up on the losing side after having the better of the game even after Ritchie de Laet’s red card just before half-time. The Belgian defender received his marching orders after an off the ball clash with Latics forward Tomasz Kupisz, who rubbed salt in the wound when scoring what proved to be the winner just after the hour mark, and despite hitting the woodwork twice, the recently crowned champions couldn’t quite find the goal to preserve their long unbeaten league run.

U18s: United 3 Derby 1 – Reds rock Rams with first-half fireworks

April 24th 2010, 11am
Trafford Training Centre, Carrington

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Manchester United U18s	3-1	Derby County U18s

Morrison 10	-	Ball 81
King 19, 44	-	-

 
United’s U18s extended their unbeaten run to nine league games and recorded a fifth straight win with a thoroughly convincing win over Derby County at Carrington.

Seeking to maintain their six point lead at the top of Academy League Group C and maintain their push for silverware, the Reds tore into the Rams right from kick-off and practically had the points in the bag before twenty minutes were on the clock, terrific goals from Ravel Morrison and Joshua King leaving the struggling visitors with a huge task on their hands. When King added his second and Reds’ third goal just before the break the win was secure, and the only blots on the United copybook were a late Derby consolation goal from Callum Ball and a needless red card for Paul Pogba, who will now have an anxious wait to see how many of United’s remaining games he will be forced to sit out.

Reserves: United 0 City 2 – Title-winners’ treble dreams are dashed

April 22nd 2010, 7pm
Moss Lane, Altrincham

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Manchester United Reserves	0-2	Manchester City Reserves

-	-	Mak 77
-	-	Tutte 79

 
United may have got one over on their local rivals in dramatic fashion at Eastlands last weekend but the noisy neighbours got a small measure of revenge at reserve level as City deservedly beat Ole Solskjaer’s second string 2-0 at Moss Lane, ending the Reds’ hopes of a treble and prying the Manchester Senior Cup from their grasp after two successive triumphs.

Fresh from winning the reserve league without even playing on Tuesday, there was an element of ‘after the lord mayor’s show’ about United as they put in perhaps their worst performance of the season, Ben Foster comfortably the Reds’ best player as he was called upon to keep the cup holders in the game on numerous occasions. His stubborn resistance was ended by a cool finish from Robbie Mak thirteen minutes from time though and the Blues immediately nipped any thoughts of a United comeback in the bud when Andrew Tutte fired home from the edge of the box two minutes later to send City through to a cup final clash with Bolton Wanderers.

Ole eyes further prizes

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s United reserve side may have been crowned champions of the Barclays Premier Reserve League North this week, but with two other trophies still in his sights, the Norwegian coach is already looking ahead to the next challenge.

SAF hails title-winning Reserves as national playoff date is set

Sir Alex Ferguson has taken time out from overseeing the first teams’ Premier League pursuit to offer congratulations to Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, Warren Joyce and the reserve team squad for the successful resolution of their own title challenge.

U18s: Stoke 0 United 3 – Reds power past Potters to go six clear

April 21st, 1pm
Clayton Wood Training Ground, Stoke

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Stoke City U18s	0-3	Manchester United U18s

-	-	Ajose 2
-	-	Pogba 19
-	-	Cofie 88

 
After seeing their reserve counterparts crowned champions on Tuesday night, Paul McGuinness’ Under-18 side took a big step towards a title of their own as they moved six points clear at the top of Barclays Premier Academy League Group C with a comfortable 3-0 win at Stoke City.

A second-minute strike from in-form skipper Nicky Ajose gave the Reds a lead they would never look like relinquishing, and further goals from Paul Pogba and John Cofie provided a scoreline that accurately reflected United’s superiority and delivered a second convincing away win in the space of four days.