U21s: Everton 1 United 2

Manchester United Under-21s claimed all three points with a 2-1 win over Everton in our Friday evening Premier League 2 meeting at Walton Hall Park.

Jack Fletcher netted the opener with a powerful effort on the edge of the box, providing the young Reds with the lead after just 12 minutes, but Omari Benjamin headed home an equaliser for the hosts just before the half-time whistle.

The second half was a relatively even affair, punctured by some persistent forward play from Jayce Fitzgerald, which was rewarded with a fortunate deflection that provided our second goal and, ultimately, all three points.

FIRST HALF

Following a perfectly observed minute’s silence at Walton Hall Park to pay tribute to those affected by the recent Heaton Park Synagogue attack, the game got under way on Merseyside.

Storm Amy brought testing conditions for the two sides, the ball occasionally acting unpredictably in the high winds, but the Reds didn’t let the weather impact their rhythmic passing game in the early moments.

Jack Fletcher provided the opener in the 12th minute, smashing a finish into the top-right of George Pickford’s net with his left foot, after being teed up on the edge of the box by Gabriele Biancheri.

United were in control for much of the first period, but Everton grew into the game as the interval neared and made their pressure pay, when Benjamin nodded home a strong Joshua van Schoor delivery minutes before the halfway point.

SECOND HALF

Having headed back to the dressing rooms in stalemate, that carried through the break and back out onto the pitch, with little to separate sides for the first 25 minutes of the second half.

The best chance during that period fell to James Scanlon, who hit a driven effort from outside of the penalty area that whistled past the wrong side of the post, despite the effort looking on target when it left his boot.

The Gibraltar international was in amongst the action for our second goal of the game, kicking off a move that eventually found Sam Mather on the left wing, who played a pass into the middle to Fitzgerald. Our no.10 controlled the delivery at first, but as the Everton defence went to clear the danger, it cannoned off the midfielder and into the back of Pickford’s net.

The Toffees showed fight in the final few minutes to try and level the game once more, but our defence stood strong to quell the threat and ensure the victory headed back across the M62 with the Reds.

MATCH DETAILS

United: Murdock; McAllister, Fredricson (Munro 65), Armer, J.Fletcher; Devaney (c), T.Fletcher; Scanlon (Mantato 80), Fitzgerald, Musa (Mather 69); Biancheri (Obi 69).

Subs not used: Janusz.

Booked: Armer.

Goals: J.Fletcher 12, Fitzgerald 78 | Benjamin 43.

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