[Academy] Milk Cup 2012, Northern Ireland

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United's Premier group fixtures:

21 July v Co Tyrone (Northern Ireland) 17:00

23 July v Revo Express (Norway) 18:00

24 July v Ichifuna (Japan) 19:00

19/07/2012 14:24 - ManUtd.com, Adam Marshall
Reds name Milk Cup squad



United have announced an 18-man squad for the Milk Cup in Northern Ireland.

The young Reds get the tournament underway against Co Tyrone on Saturday before tackling Revo Express and Ichifuna in the prestigious youth competition.

After reaching the final last year, Paul McGuinness' side will be looking to impress again this time around.

Summer signings Sean Goss and Matthew Willock are included along with Devonte Redmond from the Under-16s. Midfielders Ben Pearson and Joe Rothwell played in the 2011 final against Aspire while James Wilson came off the bench in that game.

ManUtd.com will follow the progress of the youngsters throughout the tournament.

Squad: Pierluigi Gollini, Kieran O'Hara; Ryan McConnell, Louis Rowley, Liam Grimshaw, Nicholas Ioannou; Ben Pearson, James Weir, Joe Rothwell, Andreas Pereira, Matthew Willock, Paddy McNair, Sean Goss, Josh Harrop, Devonte Redmond; Sam Byrne, James Wilson, Ashley Fletcher

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MILK CUP - PREMIER SECTION

CO TYRONE 2
(Glackin 34, McShane 60)

MANCHESTER UNITED 0

21/07/2012 18:58 - ManUtd.com, A Marshall & H McConnell
Youngsters open with defeat


Nicholas Ioannou

United opened the Milk Cup campaign with a 2-0 defeat to Co Tyrone in Castlederg.

The win will be sweet revenge for the Northern Irish team, who were beaten 7-0 at the same stage of last year's competition by the Reds. Joe Rothwell (2) and James Wilson netted in that rout but were unable to get on the scoresheet this time around, despite Paul McGuinness' side enjoying the lion's share of possession.

An injury to defensive mainstay Nicholas Ioannou disrupted the pattern of the game and Tyrone took full advantage, scoring a goal in each half. Ioannou was taken off on a stretcher with what appeared to be a painful muscular problem with midfielder Paddy McNair being introduced.

Wilson and Sam Byrne had efforts but Jamie Glackin unleashed a fine right-foot shot into the top corner of Pierluigi Gollini's net to open the scoring just before the break. After Byrne fired across goal for United, a free-kick was headed down for Cathal McShane to bury a smart finish.

Despite a patchwork defence of their own, Tyrone held out stoutly thanks to a physical performance with midfielder Gary Henderson particularly impressive. For United, Wilson worked hard and one superb run created a chance that went begging while Ben Pearson showed some neat touches in midfield. Nonetheless, the Reds will need to improve against Revo Express on Monday.

United: Gollini; McConnell (Harrop), Grimshaw, Ioannou (McNair), Rowley; Pereira (Goss), Weir, Rothwell, Pearson; Byrne, Wilson.

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MILK CUP - PREMIER SECTION

MANCHESTER UNITED 8
(Wilson 17 31, Byrne 35, Harrop 37,39,54,68 Fletcher 63)

REVO EXPRESS 0

23/07/2012 19:31 - ManUtd, A Marshall & H McConnell
Reds run riot past Revo


James Wilson

United bounced back from the surprise defeat to Co Tyrone to thrash Revo Express 8-0 in Ballmoney.

James Wilson got the ball rolling with a great finish from the left-hand edge of the box and the promising striker doubled the lead after fine work and a neat pass by Liam Grimshaw.

Sam Byrne added a third before the break when pouncing on the rebound after his initial header from a Wilson cross bounced back off the bar.

Josh Harrop took centre stage in the second half, smashing a couple of similar strikes to make it 4-0 before converting another smart finish to notch his hat-trick.

Substitute Ashley Fletcher got in on the act by making the most of a one-on-one opportunity and a long-range strike by midfielder Harrop, for his fourth, rounded things off on a productive evening.

The Reds can still qualify for the knockout stages with a sizeable win in the final group game against Ichifuna if other results are favourable.

"The boys recovered well, they weren't the strongest opposition tonight but all the things we were working on in training and working on came out and we got some good goals and good finishes on the end of some good moves," coach Paul McGuinness told MUTV.

"Josh got four, he could have got seven or eight. He took his goals nicely and he'll be pleased with himself.

"I really don't know what to expect from Ichifuna, it's hard to tell. Theyll be energetic and excited to play us and we'll have to have the same approach as we did tonight. If we want to go through, we need to score goals and win the game."

United: Gollini (O'Hara); McConnell, Rowley, McNair, Grimshaw; Weir (Fletcher), Harrop, Rothwell, Pearson (Willock); Byrne (Pereira), Wilson (Redmond).

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Update via twitter

RT @ManUnitedYouth: United's juniors about to kick-off in their final @MilkCup2012 group game. Need a win + defeat for Newcastle in their game to make the SFs.

United Team: O'Hara, McConnell, Rowley, McNair, Grimshaw, Pearson, Rothwell, Harrop, Pereira, Goss, Wilson

Goss playing wide left...Pearson and Rothwell in middle with Harrop out right...looks like 4411 with Pereira playing behind Wilson!

2 mins gone and Pearson gives United an early lead with a superb shot across the keeper...1-0 to Reds!

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McConnell playing in the middle of defence with McNair...Grimshaw at RB again

United in their normal strip and Ichifuna from Japan playing in all blue...apart from the goal it's pretty even first ten minutes...

20 mins in and still 1-0 to Reds...a couple of half chances but nothing else...they are pressing well...

32 mins gone and Wilson misses a sitter from six yards...knocking it over bar from a Goss cross...still 1-0

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HT 1-0 Midfield is way too crowded with Pereira dropping too deep...early goal makes a difference...O'Hara hardly anything to do...

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Fletcher replaces Pereira after 5 mins...the Belgian was booked two mins earlier and the ref was after him...good move by coaches!

14 mins Byrne for Harrop and Weir for Goss...McGuinness not happy!

17 mins and Ichifuna equalise with a sloppy equaliser...poor defending all over! 1-1

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26 mins and James Wilson restores the lead after a short corner...then is immediately subbed by Matthew Willock... 2-1 to United!

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Right on FT O'Hara makes a fab save from corner...

FT Manchester United 2 Ichifuna 1

But regret in the other match, Newcastle lead 3-1

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MILK CUP - PREMIER SECTION

MANCHESTER UNITED 2
(Pearson 3, Wilson 61)

ICHIFUNA 1
(Ishikawa 51)

24/07/2012 20:54 - ManUtd.com, A Marshall & H McConnell
Another win for young Reds



United missed out on a place in the Milk Cup semi-finals despite a 2-1 triumph against Ichifuna.

The opening game defeat to Co Tyrone proved crucial as three points were ultimately insufficient to take the Reds through, even though Ben Pearson opened the scoring with only three minutes on the clock with a firm shot across the goalkeeper.

Any thoughts of a rout similar to the one against Revo Express faded with James Wilson spurning a good chance to double the lead just before half time when firing over the bar from close range.

After substitute Ashley Fletcher mustered a decent attempt, the Japanese side levelled courtesy of Reo Ishikawa, whose header went over the line despite the efforts of Pearson to keep it out. Back came United with Wilson getting a crucial touch during a goalmouth scramble to score his third goal of the competition with his left foot.

Paul McGuinness' side will play South Coast Strikers in the Globe competition on Wednesday in Broughshane at 7pm. The other semi-final is between Etoile Lusitana and Co Tyrone.

United: O'Hara; Rowley, McConnell, McNair, Grimshaw; Pearson, Rothwell, Harrop (Byrne), Pereira, Goss (Weir); Wilson.