U18s: United 1 Portsmouth 2 – Pompey pinch the points on opening day

Saturday August 20th, 11am
Trafford Training Centre, Carrington

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Manchester United U18s	1-2	Portsmouth U18s

Lawrence 89		Colson 22
		Grant 68

 
United’s new-look academy side fell to an unfortunate opening day defeat at Carrington as an oft-outplayed Portsmouth took all three points in smash and grab fashion.

Paul McGuinness’ team offered glimpses of a potentially promising future throughout but were undone by a glaring lack of cutting edge and some naive defending, the visitors netting twice against the run of play to leave the Reds too much to do, Tom Lawrence’s late strike ultimately proving to be in vain.

U18s: United 2 Sunderland 0 – Keane caps comeback with late clincher

March 31st, 1.30pm
Trafford Training Centre, Carrington

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Manchester United U18s	2-0	Sunderland U18s

Lawrence 62 (pen)
W.Keane 90

 
United’s U18s extended their impressive recent unbeaten run to eight games with victory over Academy League Group D title challengers Sunderland at a blustery Carrington.

The Black Cats came into the game in formidable form and look well-placed to qualify for the end of season national play-offs, but an under-strength United side – missing almost the entire XI likely to start in the upcoming FA Youth Cup semi-final with Chelsea – dealt superbly with both the conditions and the opposition to run out 2-0 winners.

The Reds shaded the majority of a scrappy game and finally converted that superiority into a ead just after the hour mark, Tom Lawrence converting from the penalty spot after Gyliano van Velzen was crudely brought down. With reigning MUFC Young Player of the Year Will Keane making his long-awaited return from injury and settling things with an injury-time tap-in, Paul McGuinness could reflect on another thoroughly satisfactory outing for his young team.

U18s: United 2 Newcastle 1 – Reds grab win with late Giverin goal

March 26th, 12.30pm
Trafford Training Centre, Carrington

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Manchester United U18s	2-1	Newcastle United U18s

Cole 36		D.Taylor 41
Giverin 83

 
Just as their Reserve counterparts had done earlier in the week, Paul McGuinness’ U18′s dug deep to grind out a 2-1 win over Newcastle at Carrington.

The two sides went into the break level after the visitors’ Dan Taylor had cancelled out Larnell Cole’s stunning opener in the dying minutes of the half, and the Magpies looked the more likely to take all three points as they had much the better of the second 45. Heroics from goalkeeper Sam Johnstone helped to keep the Reds on level terms however, and it was United who snatched the win late on as substitute Luke Giverin popped up at the far post to finish off a flowing move and notch his first goal for the club.

September in Review: Eikrem takes Player of the Month honours

It’s been another impressive month for United’s youngsters across all levels, leaving us with a tough decision when picking September’s star man. While a couple of players have made compelling cases with their goalscoring exploits, we’ve gone for a man who’s predominantly a creator – the reserves’ captain and playmaking midfield maestro Magnus Eikrem.

U18s: United 3 Blackburn 2 – Late Keane spot-kick clinches dramatic win

October 2nd 2010, 11am
Trafford Training Centre, Carrington

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Manchester United U18s	3-2	Blackburn Rovers U18s

Morrison 28	-	MacLaren 4
Pogba 76	-	O’Connor 57
W.Keane 90+4 (pen)

 
Will Keane’s injury time penalty grabbed United all three points against Blackburn as a terrific game at Carrington ended in dramatic and controversial fashion.

United fell behind twice to goals by Jamie MacLaren and Anthony O’Connor but fought back each time, levelling through Ravel Morrison and Paul Pogba to set up a tense finale. The Reds’ chances of securing a win looked to have disappeared after they had a clear penalty for a foul on John Cofie turned down in the final minute, but justice was done deep into time added on as Michele Fornasier’s volley was blocked by a hand and Keane stepped up to coolly send the keeper the wrong way with practically the last kick of the match.

U18s: Sheff Utd 1 United 1 – Blades battle back to earn a point

September 18th 2010, 11am
Sheffield United Academy, Shirecliffe

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Sheffield United U18s	1-1	Manchester United U18s

Ironside 55

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Cole 47

 
United’s U18s continued their unbeaten start to the season with a hard-earned draw against Sheffield United at Shirecliffe.

Second best to a useful Blades outfit for much of the first half, United slowly came into the game and took the lead shortly after the break thanks to a brilliant Larnell Cole free-kick. Joe Ironside soon put the hosts back on level terms however, and despite both sides pushing for a winner in an entertaining contest, the Reds had to settle for a second successive 1-1 draw.

Academy Semi-Final Preview: Last Time Out

With the regional structure of academy football in England it’s not often that United and Arsenal meet at this level, and indeed you have to go back to April 2007 for the last encounter between the two sides. It was quite some game though…

Will Keane – Jimmy Murphy Young Player of the Year

It’s the night of the annual Manchester United Player of the Year Awards, and the first gong of the evening has gone to Will Keane, the Jimmy Murphy Young Player of the Year for 2009/2010.

U18s: Bolton 1 United 1 – Reds made to wait as Trotters halt title charge

May 1st 2010, 11am
Lostock Hall Farm, Bolton

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Bolton Wanderers U18s	1-1	Manchester United U18s

O’Halloran 11

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W Keane 19

 
United’s title-chasing U18s had to endure a frustrating morning at Lostock Farm as a stubborn, resilient Bolton side paid no heed to the form book and denied the Reds the three points required to clinch the Premier Academy League Group C title.

Bottom of the table and on a run of five straight defeats, the Trotters rocked United with a dynamic, physical start and an early goal from Michael O’Halloran. A scrappy effort from Will Keane got the league leaders back on terms after only eight minutes in arrears, but despite controlling the rest of the game and going close on a number of occasions, Paul McGuinness’ side couldn’t find the goal they needed to be crowned champions with a game to spare.

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.