U21s: Tamworth 3 United 0
Manchester United's Under-21s were beaten 3-0 by Tamworth in the National League Cup on Tuesday.
Goals from Immanuelson Duku, Oliver Lynch and Beck-Ray Enoru condemned Travis Binnion's side on another evening with plenty to be learned.
Gabriele Biancheri went closest for our young Reds in the first 45 minutes, with Malachi Sharpe also testing Lambs keeper Daniel Rachel in the second period.
The game was just four minutes old before the hosts took the lead, with Kwaku Donkor's cross headed home by Duku as the National League side dominated the early sparring.
United began to control play but just as momentum was being built up, the Lambs had a second, with Lynch striking after 15 minutes.
Tom Tonks played a brilliant trivela pass through to the 21-year-old, who raced through before dispatching past Will Murdock.
Yuel Helafu was combining well with Sekou Kone as our young Reds looked to gather a head of steam, despite the early scoreline.
Sam Mather had an effort that went wide, before Biancheri lashed his shot goalwards as we went in at the break with plenty to ponder.
Doku volleyed an effort that just flew over Murdock's crossbar with the second half only 20 seconds old.
Sharpe beat his man one-on-one before he sent a shot that was easily gathered by Rachel in the Tamworth net.
But as we reached 72 on the clock, the fifth-tier outfit had a third, putting the game well and truly beyond our reach.
A long ball down the right channel was seized upon by Lynch, who cut inside before sliding a pass across to Enoru, who had the easiest of tasks of dispatching for three.
Dan Armer collected the ball as we tried to find a goal inside the closing stages, but his effort was too tame to trouble the Tamworth shot-stopper.
Chido Obi had two late strikes at goal that failed to bring any joy, as we were left to dissect an evening in which the home side seemed to go through the motions on the way to victory.
Our National League Cup campaign is now over for another year, with full focus now on our remaining fixtures before the end of 2025.
MATCH DETAILS
United: Murdock; Helafu (Kamason 73), Armer, Kukonki (Scanlon 46), Leon; Kone, Devaney; Sharpe (Mantato 62), T.Fletcher, Mather; Biancheri (Obi 62).
Subs not used: Byrne-Hughes, Plunkett.