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.

Tranmere 1 United XI 1: Honours even after Lingard leveller

Friendly
Wednesday July 27th 2011, 7.30pm
Prenton Park, Birkenhead

	–
Tranmere Rovers	1-1	Manchester United XI

McChrystal 4

Lingard 34

 
United’s reserves continued their hectic pre-season programme with a creditable – if somewhat dour – 1-1 draw against League One Tranmere Rovers at Prenton Park.

The hosts took an early lead through Mark McChrystal but Jesse Lingard’s strike brought the Reds level before half-time. With Warren Joyce’s side playing their third game in four days, fatigue was an obvious factor as an uneventful second 45 largely passed both teams by and the game drifted towards an always-inevitable draw.

Ayr Utd 0 United XI 1: Norwood nets winner in second leg of Scottish double-header

Friendly
Monday July 25th 2011, 7.30pm
Somerset Park, Ayr

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Ayr United	0-1	Manchester United XI

Norwood 54

 
Oliver Norwood capped off a worthwhile visit to Scotland for United’s Reserves with a sublime curling effort to beat a competitive Ayr United side 1-0 at Somerset Park.

After beating Spartans 7-1 twenty-four hours earlier, there where high hopes for more goals from a United side that contained experienced first team players Darron Gibson and Tomasz Kuszczak. However, Norwood’s goal on 54 minutes was all that separated the two sides.

Youth Cup: U18s set for Chelsea challenge

United’s U18s take on Chelsea in the second leg of their FA Youth Cup semi-final at Old Trafford this evening, the tie finely poised after the Blues’ 3-2 victory at Stamford Bridge 10 days ago.

Youth Cup: Chelsea 3 United 2 – Reds roar back to set up scintillating second leg

FA Youth Cup Semi-Final, First Leg
April 10th 2011, 12.30pm
Stamford Bridge, West London

	–
Chelsea U18s	3-2	Manchester United U18s

Chalobah 30, 42		Lingard 56
Devyne 72		Pogba 77

 
 
A storming second half display by United’s youngsters has left their FA Youth Cup Semi-Final with Chelsea finely poised, the West London club leading 3-2 after Sunday’s enthralling first leg at Stamford Bridge.

Trailing 2-0 at the break to two set-piece efforts from Blues centre-back Nathaniel Chalobah and second-best throughout that first 45 minutes, Paul McGuinness’ side responded superbly after the break and goals from Jesse Lingard and Paul Pogba – albeit sandwiching an against the run of play strike from Chelsea’s Bobby Devyne – were the least they deserved for an eye-catching and dominant second half performance that will give the Reds plenty of encouragement when they seek to overturn a one goal deficit at Old Trafford in ten days time.

Youth Cup Semi-Final Preview: In Chelsea, Reds face formidable final-four foe

With the first team fighting for silverware on three fronts and big games coming thick and fast, it’s easy to overlook the fact that it’s not just United’s senior side that look set for a thrilling (and hopefully trophy-laden) climax to the campaign. Warren Joyce’s reserves are in hot pursuit of a treble of their own, while United’s U18s are 180 minutes away from the FA Youth Cup final, with the first leg of their last four clash with Chelsea taking place at Stamford Bridge this Sunday.

U18s: United 1 Liverpool 2 – Reds’ run ends as Merseysiders get revenge

April 4th, 1.30pm
Trafford Training Centre, Carrington

	–
Manchester United U18s	1-2	Liverpool U18s

Lawrence 32		Morgan 23
		Massacci own goal 45

 
The U18s’ eight-match unbeaten run came to an end as Liverpool gained a measure of revenge for last month’s FA Youth Cup exit with a 2-1 win at Carrington.

A makeshift United side – featuring just two of the starting eleven from that thriller at Anfield – fell behind midway through the first half to a goal from Liverpool’s top scorer Adam Morgan, and while Tom Lawrence produced a fine equaliser ten minutes later, Paul McGuinness’ side found themselves in arrears again on the stroke of half-time through an own goal by the unfortunate Alberto Massacci. The visitors were good for their lead, and while United had their chances to snatch a point in the second half, Liverpool kept them at bay to record a deserved win.

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

	–
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.

U18s: Derby 2 United 2 – Another pearler from Pogba as Reds draw at Derby

Saturday March 19th 2010, 11am
Moor Farm Training Centre, Oakwood

	–
Derby County U18s	2-2	Manchester United U18s

Ball 1	–	Lawrence 40
Hendrick 56	–	Pogba 75

 
After last week’s Youth Cup thriller at Anfield, United’s U18s returned to league action and once again showed their resilience to come from behind twice and earn a point against Derby at Moor Farm.

The Reds found themselves behind in controversial circumstances inside the first minute when Callum Ball’s header was dubiously adjudged to have crossed the line, but Paul McGuinness’ side rallied to control the first half and draw level just before the break with a fine strike from Tom Lawrence. The second half followed a similar pattern, the hosts striking early through captain Jeff Hendrick before drawing level once more with a sensational strike from their own skipper Paul Pogba, and while there was still time left for United to push for the winner their play deserved, Derby held out to ensure the points were shared.