U18s: United 0 Newcastle 0
Manchester United's Under-18s drew 0-0 with Newcastle United at Carrington on Saturday in the U18 Premier League North.
A tightly-contested affair saw chances for both sides go amiss as Adam Lawrence's side failed to find a valuable breakthrough.
Gabriele Biancheri had the ball in the net after 18 minutes but the young forward was adjudged to have failed to beat the offside trap in the process.
Jim Thwaites also went close during the second period with a wicked free-kick but Magpies goalkeeper Will Anderson was equal to his drive.
FIRST HALF
Victor Musa's high energy caused Newcastle some threat early on as he carved open an opportunity for Biancheri. The latter saw his shot saved by Anderson with the game just a few minutes old.
Amir Ibragimov picked up a loose pass before charging towards goal shortly after, playing in Musa. The 18-year-old was denied but Biancheri swept home the rebound, only for the offside flag to be raised soon after.
James Bailey was proving a livewire in midfield and with 39 minutes on the clock, the United no.8 skipped forward and nudged the ball into the path of Musa.
Somehow, Musa couldn't open the scoring from close range with his low effort sailing wide of the post, much to the despair of his team-mates.
SECOND HALF
The visitors started the brighter of the two sides as the second half began, with Guy Bloomer's curling drive almost finding the top corner.
With 53 minutes on the clock Jim Thwaites's free-kick had to be smartly dealt with by Anderson before the Newcastle goalkeeper pulled off another find stop soon after.
Shea Lacey, just introduced as a substitute, was teed-up on the edge of the area and with his left-footed drive seemingly destined for the top corner, Anderson again denied the Reds a go-ahead goal.
Lacey was beginning to dictate the play as approached the final stage and his cross for Ibragimov brought yet another wonderful save from the Magpies ever-present goalkeeper.
Despite our young Reds best efforts, Newcastle stood tall to keep their resistance at the back with the game ending 0-0.
MATCH DETAILS
United: Byrne-Hughes, Kamason (Overy, 62), Kukonki, Plunkett (Armer, 62), Mills, Fletcher, Bailey (Lacey, 62), Ibragimov, Thwaites, Biancheri (Lusale, 77), Musa.
Subs not used: Heath.
Newcastle: Anderson, Johnson, Craggs, Watts, Bloomer, Alabi (Apia, 86), Cogdon, Harper, Wooster (Waddani, 69), Brayson (Durrant, 90) Mills (Fitzgerald, 70).
Subs not used: Jones.