21/11/2009 11:38, Report by Ben Hibbs
U18s: Liverpool 1 United 3
Premier Academy League
Saturday 21 November, 2009
LIVERPOOL 1
MANCHESTER UNITED 3
Keane 16, 75 Ajose 54
Will Keane continued his excellent record in front of goal to inspire a 3-1 victory for United over arch-rivals Liverpool.
The in-form Stockport-born striker scored twice and had a hand in United’s other goal from Nicky Ajose. He has now scored seven goals in his last four games.
The Reds were suffering from a host of absentees as Scott Wootton was out through suspension, while Ravel Morrison, John Cofie, Reece Brown, Robbie Brady, Alberto Massacci and Michele Fornasier were all missing from the starting line-up. Despite that, it didn’t seem to affect Paul McGuinness’ side as United took the lead after 16 minutes of a commanding display.
And this was the silky-skilled Keane at his finest. From Ajose’s left-wing cross, Keane’s first touch was delightfully delicate to bring the ball into his possession. Then, surrounded by Liverpool defenders, his neat footwork engineered some space before he curled his shot expertly into the far corner.
The Reds assumed control as the half wore on and Keane went close to a second with a header inside the six-yard box, while Davide Petrucci fired narrowly wide after good work on the edge of the area.
At the other end, Reds goalkeeper Conor Devlin saved brilliantly from Thomas Ince’s free-kick midway through the first half, and the same Liverpool player forced another fine low stop from Devlin just before the break.
Liverpool started the second half brightly with one or two attacking forays, but it was United who got the game’s next goal on 54
minutes. Good work from Paul Pogba in midfield and a nice turn and pass by Keane set Ajose on his way down the left channel. The livewire winger raced into the box and then lashed his left-footed shot into the top corner.
In the 75th minute Keane made sure of all three points for the dominant visitors. He capitalised on some slack defending from the home side before firing the ball left-footed through a defender’s legs and into the bottom corner.
The only blot on United’s copybook came in the dying stages when Adam Pepper’s free-kick made it’s way through a posse of bodies in the box and beat Devlin, denying the Reds a deserved clean sheet.
Nevertheless, it was a good victory to keep up the pressure on Premier Academy League Group C leaders Blackburn Rovers, and is good preparation ahead of the forthcoming FA Youth Cup third round tie against Birmingham City on Thursday 10 December.
United: Devlin; Tunnicliffe, Thorpe, McGinty, Fryers (Gill 49); Lingard, Pogba, Petrucci, Ajose; Cole, Keane.
Subs not used: Stewart, Moffatt.
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