Under-18s: United v Stoke City

The opening passage of play presented a relatively even contest, with both sides battling hard in the midfield but struggling to break through each other's final line of defence.

That pattern held until the 20th minute, when the young Reds made a charge down the right flank courtesy of James Scanlon. He drilled a low cross towards the six-yard box and the pace on the ball allowed Gabriele Biancheri to make minimal contact to guide it into the far corner.

With the lead established, Adam Lawrence's side wanted to make the period of pressure pay and did so almost immediately, when Scanlon seized possession just outside the penalty area minutes after his assist, and looked up before slotting a calm finish beyond Stoke goalkeeper Seb Jensen for the second goal.

The Gibraltar international was just yards away from that same spot when he dispatched the third, receiving a Jack Fletcher pass from the left wing before rocketing a finish into the top-left corner with such power that it left Jensen rooted to his line.

The Potters were handed an opportunity to get back into the game just five minutes after the interval; United's Finley McAllister was deemed to have arrived late when he went to ground for a tackle inside his own box.

Stoke forward Luke Enright stepped up and converted the penalty despite Reds goalkeeper Tom Myles diving the right way and almost getting a fingertip to it.

The young hosts were gifted a chance to restore the three-goal cushion almost immediately when Ethan Williams was tripped on the edge of the penalty area at the other end. He stepped up to the spot, but Jensen was able to palm the effort wide.

However, it would not be long before our no.11 made amends, taking a cross-field Scanlon pass in his stride before he drove into the box and rolled the ball inside the near post.

Enright reduced the visitors' arrears once again in the 66th minute, rising above the defensive pack to head home a Josh Maskall cross.

That Potters goal was not enough for the visitors to mount a comeback, with United keeping control for the remainder of the game and ensuring all three points were secured.

MATCH DETAILS

United: Myles; Kamason, McAllister, Kingdon, Nolan; Devaney; Sharpe (Lacey 61), Scanlon, J.Fletcher (Armer 71), Williams (Thwaites 78); Biancheri.

Substitutes not used: Plunkett, Byrne-Hughes.

Goals: Biancheri 20, Scanlon 23, 44, Williams 60 | Enright 52 (pen), 66.