Reserves: Blackburn 2 United 2 – Eikrem strikes late to snatch a point

September 27th 2010, 7pm
Leigh Sports Village, Leigh

	–
Blackburn Rovers Reserves	2-2	Manchester United Reserves

Roberts		Brady 34 (pen)
Hoilett 73 (pen)		Eikrem 90+4

 
For the third consecutive day a United side drew 2-2, Magnus Eikrem’s late late strike earning United’s reserves a deserved share of the points against a strong Blackburn XI at Leigh Sports Village.

A largely disappointing game sprung to life ten minutes before the break as Robbie Brady converted a penalty won by Ravel Morrison, with Rovers keeper Frankie Fielding keeping his side in the game with a series of fine saves thereafter. The hosts weathered that storm and turned things around in the second half, a goal apiece from strike pairing Jason Roberts and David Hoilett – the latter from the spot – giving Blackburn a lead they looked like holding onto until Reds skipper Eikrem popped up in the fourth minute of stoppage time with a brilliant equaliser, just reward for a youthful United side that more than matched their more experienced opposition.

Reserves: United 4 Bolton 0 – Magnificent Magnus proves a point

September 23rd 2010, 7pm
Moss Lane, Altrincham

	–
Manchester United Reserves	4-0	Bolton Wanderers Reserves

Ajose 63, 69, 79
Cofie 90

 
United’s 100% record in this season’s Manchester Senior Cup continued as Nick Ajose’s quickfire second-half hattrick fired the Reds to a comfortable win over Bolton Wanderers at Moss Lane.

After a dour first forty-five minutes Ole Solskjaer’s side cut loose after the break, inspired by a magical display of playmaking from Magnus Eikrem, who was an architect in all four goals. United blew the visitors away in a 16-minute spell as Ajose continued his impressive season so far with a fine display of finishing and a first reserve treble, the equally prolific John Cofie completing the rout in injury time as he grabbed what has this season become his almost obligatory goal.

Reserves: Bury 1 United 5 – Shakers shaken as Reds fire five

September 20th 2010, 7pm
Gigg Lane, Bury

	–
Bury Reserves	1-5	Manchester United Reserves

Carlton 38		Brady 29, 34
	–	Vermijl 59
	–	Cofie 75
	–	Tunnicliffe 81

 
United’s Reserves cruised into the quarter-finals of the Lancashire Senior Cup with a convincing 5-1 victory over Bury at Gigg Lane.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side responded to their heavy defeat at the hands of Aston Villa last week in ideal fashion, dishing out a thrashing of their own to set up a last eight clash with Oldham Athletic. Robbie Brady set the Reds on their way with a quickfire double midway through the first half, and while a mistake from Reece Brown allowed the Shakers to pull a goal back before half-time, United moved up a gear after the break and ran away with the tie, adding further goals through Marnick Vermijl, John Cofie and Ryan Tunnicliffe.

Reserves: Yeovil 3 United 2 – Hosts get their Way as Reds suffer second-half slump

Darren Way Benefit Match
July 24th 2010, 3pm
Huish Park, Yeovil

	–
Yeovil Town	3-2	Manchester United XI

Kalala 47	–	Possebon 37
S.Williams 50	–	Brady 78
Virgo 51	–	–

 
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s 21-game unbeaten run in pre-season fixtures came to an end as United’s Reserves suffered defeat against Yeovil Town in a benefit match for Glovers coach Darren Way.

The Reds took a slender lead into the half-time interval after Rodrigo Possebon’s second goal in as many games, but Solskjaer’s side were rocked in a five minute spell after the break as Jean-Paul Kalala, Sam Williams and Adam Virgo punished some slack defending to completely turn the game on its head. Sub Robbie Brady pulled one back to set up an entertaining finish but the home side held on, much to the delight of the 6664-strong crowd who saved their loudest cheer of the day for the last minute introduction of Way, turning out in a Yeovil shirt for the final time after his playing career was prematurely ended by serious injury.

Reserves: Curzon Ashton 0 United 4 – Reds cruise through pre-season opener

Jack Crompton Trophy
July 12th 2010, 7.45pm
Tameside Stadium, Ashton-under-Lyne

	–
Curzon Ashton	0-4	Manchester United Reserves

–	–	Eikrem 7
–	–	Morrison 28
–	–	Ajose 35
–	–	Brady 66

 
United’s Reserves got their pre-season programme off to flying start with a comprehensive 4-0 win over Curzon Ashton at the Tameside Stadium.

The last encounter between these two sides ended in a resounding 8-0 victory for the Reds, and with goals from Magnus Eikrem, Ravel Morrison and Nicky Ajose giving Ole Solskjaer’s side a 3-0 lead at the break, a similar scoreline looked on the cards. United – showing off the club’s new home kit for the first time – laid siege to the Curzon goal in the second half and the brilliant Robbie Brady added a fine fourth, but the woodwork, several near misses and some profligate finishing meant that the non-leaguers kept the scoreline respectable.

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

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

	–
Bolton Wanderers U18s	1-1	Manchester United U18s

O’Halloran 11

–

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.

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

April 29th 2010, 7pm
Turf Moor, Burnley

	–
Burnley Reserves	0-1	Manchester United Reserves

–

–

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: United 6 Blackburn 1 – Reds get revenge as Rovers are routed

February 20th 2010, 11am
Trafford Training Centre, Carrington

	–
Manchester United U18s	6-1	Blackburn Rovers U18s

King 10	–	Potts (pen) 83
Brady 23 (pen)	–	–
Cole 52	–	–
Pogba 54	–	–
Hussain 74	–	–
W.Keane 85	–	–

 
 

With last month’s humbling FA Youth Cup exit at the hands of today’s visitors still fresh in the memory, United’s U18s were presented with a chance for revenge at Carrington this morning and took it in some style, ending a run of three games without a goal by putting six past a shellshocked Rovers side and seizing top spot in Academy League Group C.

The Reds were the more clinical side in a closely-contested first half, establishing a two goal lead thanks to Joshua King and Robbie Brady, before really cutting loose after the break with further goals from Larnell Cole, Paul Pogba, Etzaz Hussain and Will Keane, with Blackburn’s sole consolation coming from a late and dubious penalty converted by former United schoolboy Michael Potts.

United Youth Review of 2009: Part One

With another eventful and successful calendar year for United’s reserve and academy teams drawing to a close, it’s time for the almost-inevitable 2009 retrospective. We start today with January through til March, covering some surprise transfer activity, one of the greatest reserve games of recent times and Wembley glory for some of Fergie’s latest batch of fledglings.

Injuries threaten Youth Cup bid

With the Reds’ Youth Cup third round tie with Birmingham City just a fortnight away, the pool of available players for Paul McGuinness to choose from for that match seems to be dwindling by the day.