UNDER-18S: WOLVES 2 UNITED 5
Under-18 Premier League | Sir Jack Hayward Training Ground | Scorers: Watt 74, Giles 77; Boonen 3, 19, Buffonge 24, Burkart 29, Chong 32
Manchester United’s Under-18s crashed home five goals for the fourth time this season to stay top of the Academy Premier League, but they are only the bare facts of a terrific display that must have had manager Kieran McKenna and his backroom staff buzzing.
Traditionally, a visit to Wolves’ Academy guarantees a challenging contest, but on this occasion the Molineux youngsters, particularly in the first half, just couldn’t cope with the quality of United’s play.
The game had barely started when United raced into the lead, with Tahith Chong crossing from the right for Indy Boonen to tap home. It was a blistering opening from the young Reds, but it was merely a taste of what was to follow over the next 40 minutes.
Some of United’s play was sublime and the Wolves defence, from the earliest moments of the game, were struggling to contain the rampant visitors. Nineteen minutes into the game and United were celebrating again after Nishan Burkart had charged down the left before passing to Boonen, who was given the simple task of placing the ball into the net.
Less than five minutes later and Wolves goalkeeper Harry Beasley was again picking the ball out of the back of the net following DJ Buffonge’s close-range finish. Burkart raised the score to 4-0, in the 29th minute, and three minutes later Chong claimed the fifth goal after moving over to the left wing.
It had been a quite extraordinary half of football from United’s kids and they looked capable of at least doubling their output in the second half if they maintained that level of performance.
But, as so often happens in football, the first-half blitz wasn’t replicated, yet the Reds had done more than enough to ensure that the points were secure. It is fair to say that Wolves did improve after the break and goals from Elliott Watt and Ryan Giles gave the scoreline a more respectable appearance.
United continued to pile up the chances, with Burkart and Angel Gomes both striking the frame of Wolves’ goal, but try as they might they couldn’t get the ball past Beasley again.
But all in all, this was a thoroughly satisfactory afternoon for the young Reds, and a remarkable first half to cherish.
United: Fojticek; Tanner, Warren, Dunne, Kenyon (Spratt 46); Whelan, Buffonge; Chong (Bohui 61), Gomes, Boonen; Burkart (Diedrick-Roberts 61). Substitutes not used: Johnstone, Barlow.
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