U18s: United 4 Derby 3

The young Reds are hot on the tails of rivals Manchester City in pursuit of a second successive U18 Premier League North title.

Adam Lawrence’s side trailed by two goals at one point, but got one back before half-time through Bendito Mantato. We then put in a fine second-half performance, with James Scanlon and Shea Lacey’s goals taking United ahead, before another from Victor Musa was required when Derby had levelled themselves.

United are next in action at Everton’s Finch Farm Training Ground on Saturday 26 April (11:00 BST).

Tributes were paid pre-match to Academy alumnus Joe Thompson, who sadly died at the age of 36 on Thursday. Our thoughts remain with his wife, Chantelle, and his two daughters.

United could have taken an early lead when Biancheri headed over from Amir Ibragimov’s right-wing cross, but instead it was the visitors to break the deadlock. Derby capitalised on a loose pass to counter-attack, with left-winger Cruz Allen finish ruthlessly past Will Murdock.

Allen nearly followed his first up with a second, but this time Murdock tipped his powerful left-footed effort over the crossbar.

A second headed chance for Biancheri passed United by after a nice cross from captain Jacob Devaney, a midfielder starting at right-back.

Excellent wing play from Mantato created a half-chance for Ibragimov, but Derby were alert to it and prevented space to shoot, causing a half-hit effort to be saved. Shortly after, Mantato had his own effort blocked, and Biancheri’s follow-up met the same fate.

Murdock came up big once more, denying Charles Ebuka when one-on-one. But it wouldn’t be long until the in-form Ebuka found his goal. Murdock punched away a right-wing free-kick but United failed to clear, with Ebuka pouncing to lash it home.

United responded well. After good work from left-back Plunkett, the Reds played inside through Scanlon, then Ibragimov, then Biancheri until he finally teed Mantato up to finish clinically.

A fast start to the second half should have drawn greater reward for United, with Scanlon having a good shot saved, Dan Armer heading wide of the left post and substitute Jim Thwaites’s free-kick also squeezing wide.

Instead, it took until 72 minutes in for Scanlon to level the game, finishing well after fantastic wing-play from another sub, Lacey, on the right flank.

His fine contribution continued four minutes later with an excellent goal of his own. With several shots blocked around the edge of the box, Lacey showed good feet to find space on his weaker right foot and then strike into the bottom left corner.

It seemed likely to be the winner, but Derby found extra reserves of energy. Devaney put in a last-ditch challenge to prevent Allen netting on the counter-attack, but County couldn’t be supressed and levelled through Tristan Gill’s header shortly after.

United, then, had to find something more and did so in the second minute of injury time. Once again, Lacey was at the heart, playing a neat ball through to Tyler Fletcher inside the box. His run was well-timed, and his pull-back well-weighted. Musa finished well.

MATCH DETAILS

United: Murdock; Devaney (c), Munro, Armer, Plunkett (Lacey 67); T. Fletcher, Ibragimov (Lusale 67), Baumann (Thwaites 61); Mantato, Biancheri (Musa 61), Scanlon (Mills 93).

Unused subs: None.

Goals: Mantato 37, Scanlon 72, Lacey 76, Musa 90+2 | Allen 9, Agbawodikeizu 33, Gill 82.