Skip to Main NavigationSkip to content
Friday 14 March 2025 20:55
Manchester United’s Under-21s earned just reward for a dominant Friday night performance at Leigh Sports Village as they comfortably defeated visiting West Brom.
A flurry of goals before the half-hour mark gave the young Reds a dominant lead, and they refused rest on their laurels, extending the advantage further before the break as Jack Fletcher netted a three-minute double, assisted twice by his brother Tyler.
West Brom hit back in the second half with a penalty earned and converted by Harry Whitwell, but United held firm for a good home victory.
The young Reds are not back in competitive action until Monday 31 March, when they travel to York to take on Leeds United at the LNER Community Stadium.
It was an enjoyable first half for the young Reds, with James Scanlon shown here demonstrating a clever backheel.
A dominant United created early half-chances, with Habeeb Ogunneye’s teasing ball left unfinished in the area four minutes in and Jack Fletcher’s cross-cum-shot saved after neat footwork. The Baggies showed some threat through Eseosa Sule, who tried an audacious long-range lob, while Deago Nelson headed wide.
But it wasn’t long before the visitors suffered at the hands of a clinical United side. A flowing move from defence began with Godwill Kukonki’s excellent pass under pressure. Tyler Fletcher then drove forward before teeing up Mantato on the right wing. He crossed without hesitation and Biancheri finished while airborne for his 18th goal in all competitions this season.
Scanlon soon reached the same marker for the same campaign when Kukonki acted as initiator once more. His cross-field ball set Sam Murray up on the left wing and while his cross initially evaded Biancheri, Scanlon was on hand to pounce and ultimately poke it home right-footed for a quick second.
The third of a quick flurry came six minutes on, when Sekou Kone won possession, as he did many times on the night. He teed up Biancheri, who repaid the favour as he turned from scorer into provider with a well-weighted pass to Mantato, who had assisted the opener. The 17-year-old winger faced up his man, gave him the eyes and finished clinically with his left.
And there were still more to come before the break. Tyler Fletcher, drifting out to the right-wing, set this one up with a fizzing ball towards his brother, Jack. He finished first-time with his left, as he did again just three minutes later when Tyler pulled another back.
West Brom showed resilience after the break to fight in the early stages and regain a foothold in the game. That resilience earned a goal after 63 minutes, when Harry Whitwell earned and converted a penalty.
Mali youth international Sekou Kone on the ball.
United ensured that would prove only a consolation, rather than a route back into the game, with some controlled possession and a couple of chances. Munro headed Scanlon’s right-wing cross just over the crossbar, and Murray nodded Jack Fletcher’s left-wing centre over, too. Biancheri slipped through Tommy Rowe, player-coach and substitute, late on, but his poked effort went just wide of the right post.
Victor Musa nearly added a sixth in injury time with a lovely left-footed lob from the area’s edge, but it settled onto the roof of the net.
MATCH DETAILS
United: Murdock; Ogunneye (c), Munro, Kukonki (Ngwashi 61), Murray; Kone, T. Fletcher (Rowe 81), J. Fletcher; Mantato (Musa 61), Biancheri, Scanlon (Kamason 81).
Unused subs: Graczyk.
Goals: Biancheri 19, Scanlon 21, Mantato 28, J. Fletcher 41, 44 | Whitwell pen 64
Recommended:
Friday 14 March 2025 20:55
Back to Top
