U18s: United 1 Burnley 0

Unlike the free goalscoring of other fixtures in recent weeks, this required patience and grit to overcome a well-organised and determined Burnley side who remained resolute until the game's dying minutes, when Jim Thwaites converted from the penalty spot to give United three points.

FIRST HALF

United and Burnley had a chance apiece in the opening stages, with the visitors’ Fabio So shooting wide from outside the area three minutes in, before Abdoulaye’s volley from an in-swinging left-wing Jim Thwaites free-kick struck the crossbar.

That was it for some time, with the two sides shutting each other out in a tight and even first half, until Luca Scanlon pounced on an loose pass shortly before the break. The former-United youngster and recent Gibraltar international drove forward, only for Albert Mills to recover fantastically and tackle well inside the area.

SECOND HALF

United’s possessional dominance increased after a break featuring heavy downpours which stretched into the second half. Burnley cleared well whenever the Reds got closer to goal, however.

Abdoulaye broke through just before the hour-mark, controlling an excellent Thwaites throughball, but couldn’t lift it over the impressively outstretched Clarets goalkeeper Callum Feeney.

Feeney suddenly was called into regular action, then denying Eddie Ibrovic-Fletcher, who had just come on to replace Jariyah Shah.

Another fine right-sided Thwaites delivery was headed smartly back across goal, where Gabriel tried to control and shoot quickly, but couldn’t pull it off before the block arrived.

A string of substitutions for either side dampened the regularity of chances, only for Burnley’s no.14 Warren Taylor to pop up unmarked at the back post. He headed onto the roof of the net.

Gabriel came close again, controlling a cross well before being tackled once more. With two minutes of normal time remaining, his footwork earned a penalty. Thwaites stepped up to strike and delivered an effort powerful to beat Feeney even as he got his hands to it.

United held on for a gritty victory, in part thanks to a stretching injury-time save from Fred Heath to deny Burnley's So. The Clarets thought they had a late leveller from the resulting corner, but a foul was given on Heath and the full-time whistle soon followed.

MATCH DETAILS

United: Heath; McCormack, Mills, Kukonki, Watson; Thwaites (c), Shah (Ibrovic-Fletcher 61), Bailey (McEvoy 73); Abdoulaye (Brown 73), Lusale (Ajayi 73); Gabriel.

Unused subs: Z. Watson.

Goal: Thwaites 89 pen.