Academy Match Report: Middlesbrough u18s 0-4 Manchester United u18s

Manchester United u18s travelled to Middlesbrough on Saturday afternoon as they looked to continue their perfect season.

Due to a schedule clash with the Women’s team, the match wasn’t broadcasted for supporters to view on MUTV as the club say that resources can’t stretch to provide coverage across all teams at the club.

But while the goods aren’t being provided off the pitch, they certainly are on the pitch, with Adam Lawrence’s taking the lead in just the seventh minute.

James Scanlon controlled the ball in the area before laying off to the clinical Gabriele Biancheri, who duly found the bottom corner of the net.

Boro looked to respond though with a couple of chances in quick succession forcing a top double save out of Cameron Byrne-Hughes.

The 17 year old keeper has recently spent some time away from the club with Bolton Wanderers’ youth set up, where he kept a clean sheet in his debut against Morecambe u19s before helping their u17s side defeat Salford City in the Professional Development League Cup.

Bendito Mantato and Tyler Fletcher had chances for United to extend their lead going into the break but near misses meant it remained 0-1.

Into the second half, Biancheri was barged over in the box to win a penalty which he took himself to make it 0-2, his ninth goal of the season already in just six appearances.

While Biancheri was withdrawn just after the hour mark, United replacements proved just as fearsome, as two of them combined when Amir Ibragimov played the through ball to Victor Musa to finish in off the post in the 79th minute.

Ibragimov played provider again in injury time, slipping through Mantato to finish the match off.

United remain in second in the table, one point off league leaders Derby County who have played an extra match. Lawrence’s side are back in action next Saturday when they host Blackburn Rovers.

United: Byrne-Hughes, Kamason, Armer, Kukonki, Plunkett (Bailey 62), Baumann, T. Fletcher (Thwaites 66), Mantato, Fitzgerald, Scanlon (Ibragimov 62), Biancheri, (Musa 66)

Sub not used: Heath

Feature image Lewis Storey via Getty Images