Returning from the international break, Manchester United u18s hosted Burnley at Carrington this morning.
Darren Fletcher has had a perfect start to the season as the new manager with three wins from three and looked to extend his record against Burnley.
The opposition side featured a familiar face in Luca Scanlon, the younger brother of James Scanlon, who joined Burnley from United and made his senior international debut for Gibraltar last week at just 16 years old.
First half
The first chance of the match came the way of the visitors. A short free-kick routine set up Fabian So at the edge of the box to strike just wide of the right post.
In the sixth minute, Jim Thwaites’ delivery from a wide free kick found Douka Nkoto centrally, whose side-footed volley cannoned off the crossbar.
United dominated possession throughout the half but struggled to unlock the resolute Burnley defence.
A mistake late on in the half almost let Burnley through on goal but a good recovery from Albert Mills denied the chance before they could threaten Fred Heath in goal.
Second half
The second half continued in the same vein as the first as United peppered the Burnley box but were unable to fashion clear chances amidst the congested area.
Thwaites was United’s biggest threat on the day and set Nkoto through on the right side of the box, but Nkoto’s attempt to fool the keeper by placing it in the near corner was thwarted by Callum Feeney’s trailing leg to keep the ball out.
In the 67th minute Thwaites delivered into the box again, this time to the back post. It was knocked down to JJ Gabriel, but Feeney was quick out to cut off the angles and make another save.
If United were to get anything out of the match it seemed certain it would come from Thwaites’ David Beckham-esque deliveries into the box.
Substitutes Jay McEvoy and Junior Brown combined to set the latter racing into the box before taking a heavy challenge. However, penalty protestations were waved away as the Burnley defender took the ball.
With just moments remaining in the match, United were awarded a penalty when Gabriel was taken down as he danced towards the byline.
United’s star player on the day, Jim Thwaites, stepped up to take it and struck it with such power that the keeper couldn’t keep it out despite getting a hand to it.
There was still time for further drama though. Burnley put the ball in the net from a corner deep into injury time which was ruled out for a soft foul on Fred Heath.
The final whistle blew shortly after to give United the three points and continue their perfect start to the season.
United are back in action next Saturday when they visit Wolverhampton Wanderers.
Match facts
United: Heath; McCormack, Mills, Kukonki, Watson, Thwaites (c), Shah (Ibrovic-Fletcher 61), Bailey (McEvoy 73), D. Nkoto (Brown 73), Lusale (Ajayi 73), Gabriel
Unused subs: Z. Watson
Goal: Thwaites 89 pen
Featured image James Fearn via Getty Images
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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.
