Manchester United u18s were back in league action on Saturday morning taking on Everton as they looked to continue their perfect record.
As has been typical fashion for the u18s this season, Adam Lawrence’s side were on the front foot from the opening whistle with a series of quick attacks on the Everton box.
Chido Obi-Martin first had his effort cleared off the line after a cut back from Bendito Mantato, but it only took until the sixth minute for Obi-Martin to find the net.
A quick transition from back to front down the left wing saw James Scanlon feed Obi-Martin inside the box for a first time finish off his left boot.
A flowing move for our #MUAcademy U18s, finished by Chido Obi-Martin 🔥👌
Watch LIVE on #MUTV ⬇️#MUFC || #U18PL
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) November 9, 2024
Obi-Martin could have had his second of the match when he got onto the end of a curled in cross from Jim Thwaites but the Dane’s headed attempt went the wrong side of the post.
An Everton side who have been in good form recently provided a rare threat, with Braiden Graham breaking into United’s area to shoot but his Northern Ireland teammate William Murdock was up to the task to save in the United goal.
Just before the break, Everton somehow kept the ball out as Obi-Martin’s shot inside the box was saved before Scanlon’s effort was held onto by the keeper.
Less than five minutes after the restart, Thwaites played provider again to find the head of Obi-Martin who directed it off the base of the post.
Minutes later, United’s corner was cleared to Scanlon at the edge of the box who took a touch before curling towards the top right corner. But it was spectacularly kept out by a stretching save from Douglas Lukjanciks.
In the 54th minute, Lukjanciks couldn’t replicate his heroics again though as Thwaites found the very same corner. Making a name for himself as a free-kick specialist, Thwaites lined up from almost 25 yards out and bent the ball into the top corner reminiscent of David Beckham.
The goal comes just two weeks on from another sensational free-kick goal from the 16-year-old Thwaites, who picked up the goal of the season for both the u18s and u16s last season.
Late in the match United added a third after a series of attempts were thwarted by the Everton defenders, but the ball eventually fell to Mantato, who shifted the ball into space on his left foot to smash past the keeper.
A top performance throughout the side sealed another three points for the young reds keeping them atop of the table with a perfect 9 wins in 9.
United: Murdock, Munro, Mills, Armer, Kukonki, Thwaites, T.Fletcher (Devaney 71), Mantato, Ibragimov (Bailey 76), Scanlon (Lusale 63), Obi-Martin (Biancheri 71)
Unused sub: Byrne-Hughes
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.
