Under-18s: Manchester United 6 Wolverhampton Wanderers 1
Manchester United's Under-18s blazed to our best win of the season so far with a terrific performance against Wolverhampton Wanderers at the Aon Training Complex on Saturday.
Five goals to the good at the break, the Reds took our foot off the gas slightly in the second half but were still fabulous value for their win following an overall excellent performance. Playing on the newly renovated and renewed pitch for the first time, United wasted no time in taking the game to the visitors. Just 10 minutes had elapsed when Dylan Levitt grabbed the opening goal with a thunderous drive from the edge of the penalty area.
Five minutes later, Wolves could have been level when Austin Samuels raced through, looking all set to score until United’s keeper Alex Fojticek pulled off a brilliant diving save. The Reds responded instantly when Millen Baars crossed from the right, narrowly over Nishan Burkart but Mason Greenwood headed home his first Under-18s goal in excellent fashion.
The Reds looked capable of scoring every time we attacked and, in the 29th minute, Burkart squeezed home the third goal. There were 15 minutes remaining to the half-time whistle, but United were far from finished where scoring goals were concerned. Wolves goalkeeper Rory Brown was beaten twice more as the clock ticked towards the break with Aidan Barlow netting from the penalty spot, after Burkart had been fouled, and, in the 40th minute, Greenwood headed the fifth goal from Baars' pinpoint centre.
Despite the game being a virtual lost cause, the visitors improved markedly after the break and restricted United to just one more goal, Greenwood completing his hat-trick from Barlow’s pass in the 64th minute, and keeper Brown deserves a special mention as, without his heroics throughout the match, United could have finished with double figures.
And it was Wolves who had the last word, in the final minute, when Samuels broke free to hit home a consolation goal for the lads from the West Midlands.
United: Fojticek; Tanner, Dunne, Barrett, B.Williams; Levitt, Garner (Ramazani 72), Baars; Burkart (Galbraith 72), Greenwood, Barlow (Puigmal 65). Subs not used: Thompson, O’Connor.