UNDER-18S: UNITED 3 WEST BROM 0
Barclays Under-18 Premier League | 20 February 2016 | Aon Training Complex | Scorers: Dearnley 14, Buffonge 22 pen, Reid 60
Manchester United finished the regular Academy programme on a high with a comprehensive 3-0 win over West Brom at the Aon Training Complex.
Tommy Martin oversaw a fine display that made it seven points from the last three games with the Reds looking assured of victory midway through the first half. Although Albion's Kane Wilson powered through the defence to force Oliver Byrne to save with his legs early on, the hosts soon assumed full control.
Zak Dearnley, who scored in the corresponding fixture against the Baggies in August, cut in from the right with a delightful trick to lose his marker and squeezed the ball between Bradley House and his near post from a tight angle.
Charlie Scott slid the ball into the channel to feed Dearnley as he and Callum Gribbin dictated matters in midfield. On 22 minutes, DJ Buffonge was brought down by a combination of House and two defenders and he got up to send the keeper the wrong way from the penalty spot to double the advantage.
Wilson launched another burst forward but fired off target while Byrne had to pull off a reflex stop to deny Chay Scrivens. Any thoughts the points were not safe were soon disregarded, however, as Tyler Reid emerged as a key figure.
The full-back's cross was only partially cleared to Dearnley, whose shot was deflected wide and, from Reid's next raid down the right, following Buffonge's exquisite pass, he delivered a low drive past House for a third. There were more chances for United - Jimmy Dunne headed over a Gribbin corner, Scott forced an outstanding fingertip save out of House and Callum Whelan fired narrowly too high - as this was a confident display.
Dunne did have to clear off the line after initially being outmuscled by the dangerous Wilson but the Reds approach the play-off group, set to include Brighton, Swansea, Southampton and Norwich City, in good heart. United: Byrne; Reid, Warren, Dunne, Kenyon (Makela 72); Scott, Kehinde (Roberts 63); Buffonge (Boonen 63), Gribbin, Whelan; Dearnley. Subs not used: Moutha-Sebtaoui, Barlow.
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