U21s: Altrincham 0 United 4

The young Reds played with excellent intensity and were deserved winners in front of a 3,663-strong crowd at the J Davidson Stadium in the new competition, which pits Category One academies against senior National League sides.

United have now scored seven goals in our opening two games, after a 3-2 triumph at Forest Green Rovers six weeks ago.

Travis Binnion’s side came out of the blocks strongly and our high-energy rhythm was undisrupted until a sixth-minute injury to the hosts’ goalkeeper Harvey Randle. The subsequent pause for treatment and substitution signalled the beginning of a period of more controlled possession for Altrincham.

United instead attacked on the break, and with speed, initiated by Jack Moorhouse’s driving run through midfield. The 18-year-old showed good footwork and balance to evade two sliding challenges and prod it left to Ennis, in space, who provided a fine dipping finish to beat substitute shot-stopper Louie Fallon.

Altrincham offered a near-immediate response with Tylor Gordon’s long-range strike but Dermot Mee was equal to it, pushing it away for a corner.

Ten minutes after his first, Ennis had a second. Harry Amass this time provided the powerful run, storming down the right flank on the counter before crossing towards the penalty spot. Ennis picked up the loose ball and whipped a devastating finish into the top right corner.

United came close again before the break. The confident Ennis drove down the left but mis-crossed before Amir Ibragimov was unable to redirect Louis Jackson’s header goalwards from an Amass corner.

Altrincham better asserted themselves after a triple substitution at the break, with Mee soon getting down well to deny Alex Newby, one of the new arrivals.

United again showed quality on the break, but despite an accurate fizzed pass out left by striker Victor Musa, Ennis couldn’t find his hat-trick goal, instead watching the goalkeeper save comfortably just before the hour-mark.

With the home side unable to capitalise on a spell of possession, United benefitted from a stroke of fortune with 20 minutes remaining. Musa’s deflected shot came back off the crossbar and Ibragimov showed good awareness to follow it in, allowing him to tap home from close range.

Finley McAllister demonstrated similar desire to make the most of any loose possession minutes later, pouncing on the edge of the box and side-footing goalwards, but Fallon saved.

Altrincham's best chance of the night was dragged wide of the right post by Kahrel Reddin, and Newby's right-footed effort went beyond the left post not long after.

Late changes for United saw 16-year-old striker Louie Bradbury come on for his first U21s appearance before Ennis completed his hat-trick with another clinical finish. After strong defensive work and a good pass forward from Jack Kingdon, Ennis beat Fallon one-on-one with an excellent chipped shot to wrap up an emphatic victory.

MATCH DETAILS

United: Mee; Ogunneye (c), Jackson, Kingdon, Amass; Rowe, Moorhouse (McAllister 58), Ibragimov (Thwaites 84); Mather (Missin 71), Musa (Bradbury 84), Ennis.

Unused subs: Munro, Myles, Kamason.

Goals: Ennis 16, 26, 90+1, Ibragimov 70.

Yellow cards: Amass.