Man United U-18 Matches 2016/17

[Riskur]

Under-18s: Blackburn Rovers 3 United 2

Under-18 Premier League | Brockhall | Scorers: Thompson 72, Curran 77, Lynch pen. 80; Hamilton 53, Barlow 68

The first of two Manchester United trips to Blackburn this weekend ended in defeat at Under-18 level, despite the Reds being 2-0 up at one stage of a remarkable five-goal thriller.

The visitors looked set fair for a hard-fought victory after Ethan Hamilton and Aidan Barlow scored in the second half, but Rovers crowned an astonishing fightback with three late strikes to inflict United's first Academy league defeat since mid-September.

This was the Reds' penultimate fixture in the regional group phase of this season’s Under-18 Premier League before all the clubs from both divisions are merged together for the final stage. Currently sitting second in the North table, Kieran McKenna's United team are already guaranteed a place in the final stage's top group from which this season’s champions will emerge.

Blackburn have also secured a spot in that elite set of clubs so this contest promised to be a tight one, which, it has to said, is nothing unusual at Rovers’ Brockhall training complex. A warm welcome in this corner of Lancashire is always assured and a couple of crunching tackles in the early minutes of the game left United’s youngsters in no doubt of the type of match that was unfolding.

The hosts almost sneaked an early lead in the ninth minute when former United junior player Lewis Thompson, who joined Rovers last summer, rattled the Reds' crossbar with a stinging shot. Blackburn monopolised possession in the opening exchanges and went close again with a shot from Frank Jones that also hit the frame of Alex Fojtíček’s goal.

United slowly eased into contention and were presented with what was probably the best scoring chance of the first half. The opening fell to Joshua Bohui who found himself with a clear shooting opportunity just inside the Rovers’ area but his well-struck effort was matched by a fine save from the home side’s goalkeeper Ben Ascroft.

After an earlier, brief shower of rain, the sun was shining brightly as the half-time whistle sounded with neither side having found the net.

United began to see more of the ball after the break and Barlow almost broke the deadlock before Hamilton did just that, eight minutes into the second period, by unleashing a terrific shot from fully 30 yards that fizzed into the top corner of Ascroft’s net.
The Reds looked to be on course for all three points when Barlow added a second goal with another cracking shot but from that point, the game started to unravel for United as Rovers proceeded to score three times in an eight-minute spell.

Lewis Thompson grabbed the first and then the home side drew level with a close-range finish from Alex Curran. Ten minutes from the end, Rovers completed their comeback when Brad Lynch fired home from the penalty spot after Reds defender Jake Kenyon had been shown the red card for handling the ball.
United will naturally be hoping for a better outcome when the clubs meet in Blackburn again on Sunday afternoon, this time at first-team level in the Emirates FA Cup fifth round.

United: Fojtíček; Tanner, Dunne, O’Connor, Kenyon; Boonen (Spratt 82), Whelan, Hamilton (Sang 59), Bohui; Barlow; Burkart. Substitutes not used: Thompson (Gk), Ercolani, Makela.

http://www.manutd.com/en/Fixtures-An...uary-2017.aspx

[alfiandrmwn]

dan city u-18 yang jadi juara, congrats

[Andi Istiabudi]

Tim muda kalah nih..



UNDER-18S: STOKE 0 MANCHESTER UNITED 2

Under-18 Premier League | Clayton Wood | Scorers: Bohui 46, Buffonge 81

Second-half goals from Joshua Bohui and DJ Buffonge brought Manchester United’s league season to a winning conclusion against Stoke City and confirmed runners-up slot in the Premier League Under-18 North table.

United’s youngsters prepared for this final fixture of the 22-match league season content in the knowledge that they had already done enough to qualify for the Merit Group, from which this season’s overall champions will emerge.

United, wearing the change strip of all blue, were forced to defend for the first few minutes as Stoke went looking for an early goal, but Kieran McKenna’s side soon steadied themselves and shots from Ethan Hamilton and Indy Boonen almost proved successful.

And, in the 18th minute, United were given a great opportunity to take the lead when being awarded a penalty after Stoke defender Andrew Cherdieu fouled Buffonge. Birthday-boy Bohui was charged with the responsibility of taking the spot-kick and despite his shot being firm, true and low, home keeper Mitchell Allen dived correctly to pull off a fine save.

So it was a case of honours even at the break but, in truth, United should have been out of sight considering the number of chances created. Allen, in the Stoke goal, was certainly the busier of the two keepers and, with a touch more accuracy, United could have been holding a decent lead by the break.

Less than a minute in the second half, United finally made the breakthrough - Bohui cutting inside before hitting a right foot shot that found the net just inches from the post. The lead was almost doubled, in the 59th minute, when Boonen’s free-kick struck the top of the crossbar.

The home side were given the chance to draw level, three minutes later, when Scott Wara was baulked by United keeper Max Johnstone in the area. Striker Jordan Greenidge took the kick, but could barely believe his eyes as the ball zoomed high and over Johnstone’s bar.

United sealed the win and second place in the league table, in the 89th minute, when Buffonge cracked the ball into the net past keeper Allen.

The Reds now go forward to the Merit Stage, which begins next weekend, taking part in the same group as the North’s Manchester City, Liverpool and Blackburn Rovers, along with Chelsea, Arsenal, Reading and either West Ham United or Fulham from the Southern section.

With that line-up of fixtures to look forward to it promises to be a fascinating climax to the season as the top clubs contest the national title, with United now afforded four of the games at home due to the top-two finish.

United: M. Johnstone; Tanner, Warren, O’Connor, Kenyon (Spratt 83); Hamilton, Whelan; Boonen (Barrett 83), Buffonge, Bohui (Sang 70); Burkart. Subs not used: Dunne, Ercolani.

www.manutd.com

[penk22_]

Update :

Group A: All TBC
Sat 11 Mar Liverpool (H)
Sat 18 Mar Manchester City (A)
Sat 1 Apr Chelsea (A)
Sat 8 Apr Arsenal (H)
Sat 22 Apr West Ham (H)
Sat 29 Apr Reading (A)
Sat 13 May Blackburn (H)

As per the last two seasons, the first stage of the competition will be split into two geographical divisions of 12 teams. In these North and South divisions, each team will play each other home and away.

In the second stage, three groups of eight teams will be formed, based on final positions in the geographical divisions. For example, the teams placed from first to fourth in each geographical division will qualify for Group 1. In these groups, the teams will play each other just once.

The winner of the top group will be crowned Barclays Under-18 Premier League champions.

[Riskur]

Under-18s: Manchester United 2 Liverpool 2

Under-18 Premier League Merit Group | J Davidson Stadium | Scorers: Barlow 79, 85; McAuley 21, Longstaff 90

Two late, spectacular strikes from Aidan Barlow seemed certain to have given Manchester United a winning start to the Premier League Under-18 Merit Group A campaign after coming back from a goal down - only for Kieran McKenna's side to be thwarted by a last-gasp equaliser for Liverpool's 10 men.

This Friday-night fixture was the clubs' third meeting at this level in 2016/17 with Liverpool having enjoyed the better of the regular league clashes. The Merseysiders won 2-1 when the sides met in the early weeks of the season, also at Altrincham’s J Davidson Stadium. The other contest, at Liverpool’s Knowsley Training Centre, resulted in the rivals sharing the points and six goals.

There was a good number of supporters in the Moss Lane stand and dotted around the perimeter of the pitch as the game got under way with United in the club's traditional kit, whilst Liverpool had changed into all yellow, an away strip they have regularly worn over the years.

Not surprisingly, for a game involving two of the season’s top teams, the early moments saw the action switching swiftly from one end to the other. Chances were at a premium, but the entertainment was of a good standard as both sides went looking for an opening.

In a week when the condition of a certain playing surface was reported widely in the press, it has to be noted that the J Davidson Stadium pitch looked remarkably well considering the amount of rain that has fallen recently.

The game looked as though it could go either way and in the 21st minute Liverpool moved into the lead with striker Glen McAuley finding the net.
In the 30th minute, an over-vigorous challenge on United’s Indy Boonen by Liverpool’s Adam Lewis led to the players of both sides squaring up to each other in front of the main stand. The referee, Mr Sarsfield, was quickly on the scene and after consulting his assistants he brandished his red card and Lewis was on his way for an early shower.

Two United players, skipper Tyrell Warren and Darren McIntosh-Buffonge, were both shown yellow cards for their involvement in the incident. The flare-up was a disappointing development for up to that point it had been a keenly-contested and hugely watchable game.

United, with substitute Angel Gomes on for Max Dunne, started the second half in a determined mood and with an ounce of luck could have grabbed an equaliser before the hour mark. Callum Whelan had a fizzer of a shot from 20 yards pushed over the bar by Liverpool goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher and, moments later, Ethan Hamilton was inches off-target with an equally ferocious strike.

Liverpool substitute Okera Simmonds should have done better when presented with great chance in front of Max Johnstone’s goal, but his effort flew over the crossbar. And soon after it was Gomes’s turn to chance his luck with a long-ranger, but he failed to trouble Kelleher.

United started to make the most of the extra man and the chances began to stack up with sub Zachary Dearnley’s shot, well saved by Kelleher, being the pick of the bunch.

United’s industry and constant search for the leveller was eventually rewarded in the 79th minute when another substitute Aidan Barlow successfully found a route past Kelleher with a low shot just inside the post. If that strike was worthy of celebration, what was to follow six minutes later would have been a candidate for ‘Goal of the Season’ had it been netted in the senior Premier League.

The scorer again was Barlow who, from fully 30 yards this time, let fly with a shot that arrowed into Liverpool’s net with Kelleher totally stranded. Barlow was understandably elated, but his celebration in some way must have overstepped the mark as he received a yellow card in the aftermath.

At that point, it certainly looked like United had beaten Liverpool for the first time in three attempts during 2016/17 but in the very last minute of normal time, the visitors' sub Louis Longstaff swooped to claim a last-ditch equaliser for his team.

It sealed a quiet extraordinary second half of football which had the crowd on their feet more than once and produced prolonged applause at the end.

United: M. Johnstone; Tanner, Warren, Dunne (Gomes 46), O’Connor; Whelan, Hamilton; Boonen, McIntosh-Buffonge (Barlow 65), Bohui; Burkart (Dearnley 65). Substitutes: Spratt, Richardson (GK).

www.manutd.com

[Riskur]

UNDER-18S: MANCHESTER CITY 2 UNITED 2

Under-18 Premier League Merit Group | Etihad Campus | Scorers: Gomes 25, Coveney o.g. 57; Nmecha 31, 69

Manchester United and Manchester City shared the points and four goals in a non-stop, end-to-end Premier League Under-18 Merit Stage match at the Etihad Campus.

It was a hugely entertaining game with an outcome that was probably a true reflection of a contest that was in the balance until the final whistle.

No doubt about it, the conditions were those that many people mistakenly identify as typical of Manchester – dull, cloudy and chilly with the attendees drenched in that fine drizzle that does nothing to raise spirits.

There was a small crowd in attendance on what was, to be perfectly honest, a pretty miserable morning, but they were richly rewarded with a full-blooded ‘mini-derby’ that was a credit to both sides.

United, wearing red shirts and black shorts, started in a really positive mood against a City team, in their normal all sky blue, who were taking part in their first Merit Phase fixture. The Reds had, of course, opened their campaign last week with another 2-2 draw against Liverpool at Altrincham.

United’s bright start to the game bore fruit in the 25th minute when Angel Gomes burst through the City defence to score past keeper Aro Muric. It would be wrong to say that it was in keeping with the flow of the game because both teams had been making chances, but Zachary Dearnley was unlucky not to have earlier scored for the Reds when he found the net only for the referee to rule it out after spotting an infringement.

Six minutes after the opening goal, City replied when forward Lukas Nmecha struck an equaliser to bring some cheer to the rain-sodden Blues in the crowd.

The same player very nearly put his side into the lead in the opening moments of the second half as the game continued to produce thrills and spills. Instead, it was United who scored next and went back in front with what can only be described as a bizarre goal in the 57th minute.

Some observers chalked the goal up as Dearnley's, but then others concluded it was an own goal after the ball squirmed off the foot of City defender Joe Coveney and spun up and over the stranded Muric and into the net.

United retained the lead for twelve minutes before Nmecha, who was a handful for the Reds defence throughout the game, grabbed his second goal of the contest from Luke Bolton’s right-wing cross. Both teams produced a succession of decent chances in the time that remained and both keepers, Muric for City and United’s Theo Richardson, recently acquired from Leeds United, were kept extremely busy.

Ethan Hamilton, Aidan Barlow, Joshua Bohui and Indy Boonen, with a shot cleared off the line, were short on luck as they went looking for the winner, whilst at the other end, the ever–dangerous Nmecha was thwarted more than once by Richardson’s acrobatics. The young keeper had a splendid match, making several terrific saves, especially in the closing stages as the search for a decisive goal intensified.

Either side could have snatched victory as the game entered its final straight but in the end the 2-2 scoreline was a fair conclusion at the end of an action-packed 90 minutes.

United: Richardson, Tanner, Warren, Whelan, Hamilton; Boonen, Barlow, McIntosh-Buffonge, Dearnley (Sang 87); Gomes (Spratt 65); Bohui. Substitutes: Dunne, Johnstone, Ercolani.

www.manutd.com

[Andi Istiabudi]

MANCHESTER UNITED ACADEMY UNDER-18 FIXTURES 2016/17

UNDER-18 PREMIER LEAGUE

Sat 13 Aug - Derby (A) 0-4
Sat 20 Aug - Liverpool (H) 1-2
Sat 27 Aug - Everton (A) 5-1
Sat 03 Sep - Middlesbrough (H) 5-1
Sat 10 Sep - West Brom (H) 5-3
Sat 17 Sep - Man City (A) 0-2
Sat 24 Sep - Stoke City (H) 2-0
Sat 01 Oct - Middlesbrough (A) 2-1
Sat 08 Oct - Sunderland (H) 1-1
Sat 15 Oct - Wolves (A) 5-2
Sat 05 Nov - Blackburn (H) 4-1
Sat 12 Nov - Newcastle (A) 4-0
Sat 19 Nov - Liverpool (A) 3-3
Fri 25 Nov - Derby (H) 4-0
Sat 03 Dec - Man City (H) 2-2
Mon 12 Dec - Southampton (H) 1-2 (FAYC)
Sat 17 Dec - West Brom (A) 3-2
Sat 14 Jan - Stoke City (A), Clayton Wood - POSTPONED
Sat 21 Jan - Everton (H) 1-1
Sat 28 Jan - Sunderland (A) 5-2
Sat 04 Feb - Wolves (H) 3-0
Fri 10 Feb - Newcastle (H) 4-0
Sat 18 Feb - Blackburn (A) 2-3
Fri 3 Mar - Stoke City (A) 2-0

MERIT GROUP A

Fri 10 Mar Liverpool (H) 2-2
Sat 18 Mar Manchester City (A) 2-2
Sat 1 Apr Chelsea (A) 11:05, Cobham Training Ground
Sat 22 Apr West Ham (H) 13:00, The Cliff
Sat 29 Apr Reading (A) 11:00, Hogwood Park
Wed 3 May Arsenal (H) 14:00, J. Davidson Stadium
Fri 12 May Blackburn (H) 19:00, J. Davidson Stadium

All fixtures are subject to change. Unless otherwise stated, home games are at the Aon Training Complex and all games kick off at 11:00 on Saturdays. The majority of home matches are shown live on MUTV.

www.manutd.com

[penk22_]

UNDER-18S : CHELSEA 4 MANCHESTER UNITED 3

Under-18 Premier League Merit Group | Cobham Training Ground | Scorers: Hamilton 9, Bohui 52, Burkart 81; Castillo 22, Gallagher 27, 64 (both pens), McEachran 90+5

Manchester United gave Chelsea one of their toughest tests at Under-18 level this season and were desperately unlucky to return home empty-handed after a thrilling 4-3 defeat.

The table-topping hosts were pushed all the way by Kieran McKenna's side and their previously watertight defence was breached three times even if, ultimately, it counted for nothing.

With the sun beaming down at Cobham, it was United who shone in the early stages and capped a promising start by going 1-0 up in the ninth minute. Angel Gomes released Josh Bohui with a well-timed pass into the right-hand channel and, when the striker pulled the ball back, and a Chelsea challenge only diverted it into Hamilton's path, the midfielder fired a deflected left-footed shot into the top left-hand corner.

The free-scoring Blues had been used to having things all their own way in a southern group they won by 11 points from Arsenal, but they seemed to have been unsettled by the visitors from the northern division. Not for long, however, as two goals for Jody Morris's team in a five-minute spell overturned United's early advantage.

Martell Taylor-Crossdale cut in from the right and, despite Lee O'Connor's attentions, he unleashed a shot which beat United goalkeeper Theo Richardson and bounced off the crossbar to Juan Castillo on the left side of the penalty area. The rebound's recipient, a former member of Ajax's fabled academy, quickly composed himself and curled a fantastic finish inside the far post to level the score at 1-1 after 22 minutes.

Taylor-Crossdale's speed subsequently caused more problems when he burst between O'Connor and George Tanner and was felled by the onrushing Richardson. With the red card rightly remaining in the referee's pocket, the goalkeeper was handed a chance to save the spot-kick but Conor Gallagher fired low and hard into the bottom left-hand corner to put Chelsea in front.

Richardson did, however, produce a stunning save to push away Taylor-Crossdale's stinging drive through a forest of players after the Blues toyed with the Reds defence on the edge of the area. The United goalkeeper was called on to make another great save, this time a one-on-one block, when Callum Hudson-Odoi was allowed too much room inside the area.

United playmaker Gomes was replaced at half-time by DJ Buffonge and Chelsea picked up from where they left off by forcing Richardson to make another fine save with Gallagher's decent strike from distance. The Reds responded by putting the Blues under some pressure, a tactic which soon paid dividends with a well-crafted equaliser.

From a short free-kick in United's defence, O'Connor drove forward and on crossing the halfway line he arrowed a 20-yard pass through the heart of Chelsea's team. Bohui accelerated and, after taking the ball wide with his first touch, he swept it past Jamie Cumming with an accomplished finish to make it 2-2.

Richardson delayed Chelsea regaining the lead by diving low to his right and palming away Taylor-Crossdale's effort just after the hour mark as the hosts reasserted their grip on the proceedings. The Blues did go back in front, however, when Jake Kenyon clipped George McEachran as the attacker turned away from goal with the ball at his feet. This time, Gallagher placed his penalty high to the right of the keeper and the home side were now 3-2 up.

Taylor-Crossdale created a good opportunity to put his team further ahead when he darted between a couple of Reds defenders in the 76th minute but his low shot crept wide with Richardson close to it.

United made the Chelsea striker pay for that five minutes later when captain Tyrrell Warren won an aerial duel from a corner and nodded the ball down for Indy Boonen to lay it off and Nishan Burkart rifled an unstoppable strike past Cumming.

With 81 minutes on the clock and 3-3 on the scoreboard, it seemed the Reds might have done enough at that moment to have forced a third consecutive draw in the Merit Group stage following the entertaining 2-2 tussles with north-west rivals Liverpool and Manchester City.

But a Chelsea team looking forward to their sixth consecutive FA Youth Cup final remained dangerous and in the fifth of 10 injury-time minutes, Castillo broke down the left and whipped in a low ball that McEachran prodded home from inside the six-yard box.

It was a harsh, possibly heartbreaking conclusion to an enthralling contest but McKenna's young United squad still had a performance to be proud of, perhaps unjustly without a point to show for it.

United: Richardson; Tanner, Warren, O'Connor, Kenyon; Whelan, Hamilton (Spratt 88); Boonen, Gomes (Buffonge 46), Dearnley; Bohui (Burkart 73). Substitutes not used: Fojticek, Ercolani.

http://www.manutd.com/en/Players-And-Staff/The-Academy/Academy-News/2017/Mar/Under-18s-match-report-Chelsea-v-Manchester-United-1-April-2017.aspx

[Andi Istiabudi]

UNDER-18S: MANCHESTER UNITED 2 WEST HAM 1

MANCHESTER UNITED 2 (Barlow 8, Dearnley 40)
WEST HAM UNITED 1 (Scully pen. 69)

Goals from Aidan Barlow and Zachary Dearnley were enough to give Manchester United's Under-18s victory in an entertaining contest at The Cliff training ground on Saturday.

West Ham managed to pull one back after the half-time break, but United did enough to claim the points as both teams went looking for goals throughout a lively and fascinating contest.

It was a beautifully sunny afternoon in Salford as the teams prepared to face each other at one of United’s spiritual homes. There were a few fluffy clouds in the sky, but they didn’t spoil what was an eye-catching setting for the game against the Hammers. The playing surface looked in particularly wonderful condition and wouldn’t have been out of place at Wembley Stadium on FA Cup semi-final day.

Making an appearance at The Cliff can only inspire young players, and that is both teams, considering the incredible history linked to this evocative facility on Lower Broughton Road. United’s training ground from 1938 until 1999, it was home to the Busby Babes and many of Sir Alex Ferguson’s trophy-collecting sides.

There was a small gathering of supporters dotted along the bank on the Riverside of the ground as the game got underway with United attacking the triangular area of the training situated behind one of the goals known as ‘Wembley’.

The Hammers started well and looked bright considering they had made the long journey up from London earlier in the day. Joe Powell forced United’s keeper Alex Fojtíček into action in the first minute with a testing low drive and moments later Jahmal Hector-Ingram missed a great chance in front of the posts.

The visitors carried the early threat, but it was United who took the lead, in the 8th minute, when Barlow took a pass from Josh Bohui before finding the net with a precisely placed shot. Barlow also went close to adding further goals soon after and Nishan Burkart was also presented with a good scoring opportunity.

It wasn’t one way traffic but West Ham weren’t having any luck when given the chance to find a route past Fojtíček. Five minutes before the break and United doubled their advantage when Dearnley did really well to beat Hammers’ keeper Tyler Forde from the tightest of angles.

Hector-Ingram broke through early in the second half to get in a good shot and only a fine save from Fojtíček prevented the visitors from opening their account. United also had their keeper to thank again two minutes later when Korrey Henry, one of West Ham’s outstanding performers, tried his luck.

The Hammers got themselves back into the contest, in the 69th minute, when they were awarded a penalty after Hector-Ingram had been fouled by Fojtíček. Anthony Scully took the responsibility and confidently tucked away his spot kick past United’s diving keeper. Ten minutes later, and a cheeky lob from West Ham substitute Bernardo Costa Da Rosa almost caught Fojtíček off his line, but the ball went wide.

UNITED: Fojtíček; Tanner, Warren, Sang, Kenyon (Spratt 87); Hamilton, Whelan; Dearnley (Diedrick-Roberts 83), Barlow, Bohui; Burkart (Makela 62). Subs not used: Dunne, Johnstone.

www.manutd.com

[Andi Istiabudi]

Mantab nih para young guns United



U18S: READING 2 UNITED 5

Under-18 Premier League Merit Group | Hogwood Park | Scorers: Wallace (pen) 66, Odinayo 88; Gribbin 26, Barlow (pen) 56, 89, Hamilton 72, Dearnley 90+3

Manchester United's Under-18s jumped above Reading and kept alive their hopes of winning the Premier League Merit Group One with a keenly contested, but ultimately convincing with at Hogwood Park on Saturday morning.

The Reds held sway with Callum Gribbin’s goal at the break and went on to complete the job with a further four goals in a non-stop second spell.

Kieran McKenna’s side were hoping to finish the season on a high note with three fixtures to go starting with this match against the Royals in deepest Berkshire followed by two home matches, at Altrincham’s J Davidson Stadium, against Arsenal and Blackburn Rovers.

Reading began this game holding third place in Merit Group One with seven points from four games whilst United were one position below the hosts with five points collected from four fixtures. Both teams won at home in their previous outings, with Reading beating Liverpool 2-1 and United scooping three points against West Ham United by the same score at The Cliff.

The two sides made a bright start to the contest with attempts at either end of the field within the opening five minutes. Gribbin was inches wide with a long-range shot and moments later Reading’s Jazz Wallace went equally close at the other end.

Gribbin appeared to be enjoying himself in United’s midfield and in the 26th minute he put a smile on all United faces when he found the net with fierce low shot that squeezed inside the post.

Both teams continued to put the emphasis on attack and as a result there were several close shaves at each end. It wasn’t an overly physical contest, but nevertheless referee Bhupinger Gill took the names of four players, including United’s Joshua Bohui, during the first half.

A rapid raid downfield in the early minutes of the second period involving Zachary Dearnley, Aidan Barlow and Jake Kenyon very nearly saw United increase the lead but Kenyon’s shot was well saved by keeper Liam Driscoll.

United eventually went two-up, in the 56th minute with Barlow slotting home from the penalty spot after being fouled by Reading defender Cameron Green.

The procedure was repeated ten minutes later when United’s Max Dunne was adjudged to have illegally halted Joe Wilson’s progress and Wallace stepped forward to place his spot-kick past Theo Richardson in the Reds’ goal.

Ethan Hamilton restored the two-goal cushion in the 72nd minute with a crisply hit shot, and two minutes from time Reading gave themselves late hope when Akin Odimayo followed up Jack Nolan’s shot, which had struck the bar, to tap the ball over the line.

However, the hosts' renewed optimism was soon cut short when in the very next minute Barlow grabbed his second goal of the match after good work by Dearnley and Bohui. And United went on to complete what was ultimately a convincing win with a fifth goal scored by Dearnley in the third minute of added time.

United: Richardson; Tanner, Warren, Dunne, Kenyon; Whelan, Hamilton; Gribbin, Barlow, Dearnley; Bohui. Subs not used: Barrett, Fojtíček, Makela, Diedrick-Roberts

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