17-year-old prodigy scores Fergie time goal to keep United’s U21s top of the league

Manchester United Under-21s hosted Derby County Under-21s at Leigh Sports Village on Friday night in Premier League 2 action. After a number of loan exits and with some players involved in first team training, it was a much-changed side for Adam Lawrence’s team, who looked to retain their spot at the top of the league. First half United started on the front foot, with two early chances coming the way of Malachi Sharpe. The first of these saw Sharpe get on the end of Jaydan Kamason’s cross, but the winger’s volley into the ground did not have enough power to really trouble Jack Thompson in the Derby goal. In the 17th minute, Chido Obi slid the ball between the legs of the defender to play Sharpe into the box, but Thompson was quick off his line to cut off the angles and make a big save. Shortly after, the visitors took the lead against the run of play through Justin Oguntolu. Sharpe was caught flat-footed on the left wing, allowing Diego Leon’s pass to be intercepted before Derby launched a counter-attack and crossed to Oguntolu for an easy headed finish from close range. Derby were dangerous on the counter again late in the half, as Ireland youth international Shaun Wade cut inside and forced Elyh Harrison to get down low to the right corner to save. United looked for an equaliser just before the break and came close when Jack Moorhouse’s effort was popped up into a dangerous area by the keeper for Obi to knock onto the post on the rebound. Second half Derby were reduced to ten men on the stroke of the hour mark when Marsel Tola received a second yellow card for a studs-up challenge on James Bailey. Despite the man advantage, United struggled to break down Derby, who were happy to sit deep behind the ball. United’s best efforts came from corners, of which they had nineteen throughout the match. Leon came close twice, flicking on at the front post on both occasions, but his first effort was scooped off the goal line by Thompson and the second flashed wide of the far post. It looked like United would not find the opening, but substitute Louie Bradbury latched onto Sharpe’s knockdown to strike from inside the six-yard box. It makes it two goals in two for the Under-21s for the seventeen-year-old. Snatching a point at the death keeps United top of the table, with Fulham just one point behind in second place. Match facts United: Harrison, Ogunneye (Bradbury 79), Aljofree (C), Jackson, Leon (Kukonki 85), McCormack, Moorhouse, Kamason, Bailey (McAllister 68), Sharpe, Obi Unused subs: Murdock, Brown Goals: Bradbury 90+2 The Peoples Person has been one of the world’s leading Man United news sites for over a decade. Follow us on Bluesky: @peoplesperson.bsky.social Colm Murphy A football obsessed Canadian who moved to England to enjoy the beautiful game. Colm has been keen follower of Manchester United’s famed academy since seeing a fresh faced Adnan Januzaj for the club’s u18s and has been writing about football with a focus on youth development for over 10 years. You can follow him X: RedYouthUnited.