The Soccer Blog: Academy 1 v Everton 2

Saturday, 23 April 2011

Academy 1 v Everton 2 - Match Report

Academy 1 v Everton 2 – Match Report - The Offside - Manchester United blog

« Academy vs Everton – Preview | Home | Academy 1 v Everton 2 – Match ReportBy: Ian R | April 23rd, 2011
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academy v everton 22-04-11 We knew United would be fielding a very inexperienced and younger than usual team today and expected to get beat, no one could’ve expected to see the brave and technically well put together performance as that we witnessed. With the regular Academy players on tour in Italy, Reece Brown, Scott Wooton and Conor Devlin were used under the ‘four U19’s (including 1 keeper) rule’ to protect and encourage their schoolboy colleagues. United were hugely and obviously at a disadvantage size-wise but, to-a-man they got stuck in and didn’t let the age or size of the Everton lads intimidate them. Special praise must go to Reece Brown and Conor Devlin for constantly talking to the team and helping the youngsters through the game. Scott Wooton showed off his Championship experience and marshalled the defence well until he was moved up front in an attempt to draw level later in the game.

Everton took the lead early in the game with a shot from outside the box that Conor Devlin probably should’ve dealt with but he fumbled it and Everton were ahead. After that I think Everton assumed they would have an easy ride and swarm all over United’s ‘kids’ and get a big score, it didn’t happen. United gave as good as they got although Rafael Leao looked a little bit daunted after being fairly clattered after twenty five minutes. Matthew Wilkinson and Louis Rowley were right and left backs respectively and were both marking and tackling well with the former having a storming second half performance. Jack Rudge looked comfortable on the ball, James Wilson tirelessly closed down the Everton defence as the sole striker, Kenji Gorre looked a little bit out of his depth physically, but technically his positioning was very good. Special mention must go to the performance of Josh Harrop, apparently just 15 years old, looked very very talented. His first touch was fantastic and his composure good too, he calmy stroked the ball round all day like he’d been playing at this level for a while.

United barely got near the Everton goal in the first half until Charni Ekangamene headed a corner over the bar just before half time.

United were more adventurous in the second half but still only managed half chances at best but they still looked positive and worked hard. Ryan Shields, Otis Khan and Ben Barber were handed their U18’s debut in the second half and the referee did his best to look after our youngsters and if I’m honest was a little bias towards United when it came to what he was adjudging to be a fould by Everton and a foul by United. At this level the referees do show more leniency and common sense than they CAN at higher levels but when Jordan Barrow launched a high two-footed challenge on Charni Ekangamene with twenty minutes to go I thought a yellow card was the least he should be shown. He chose to give Barrow a stern talking to and kept his cards in his pocket, at the time I thought the decision was lenient but acceptable given the circumstances. However, the referee then started brandishing yellow cards in the last ten minutes of the match for dissent from Everton players who were now a bit miffed that United were getting all the soft decisions and letting him know, a small but sometimes crucial inconsistency.

Everton scored a second after about 65 minutes through Anton Forrester before the exhausted James Wilson pulled one back for United after about 75-80 minutes to make the final quarter of an hour interesting. United couldn’t find an equaliser and were lucky not to fall further behind but can be more than satisfied with the display.

If these kids are anything to go by, United’s Academy looks like it’s prospering and it’s future bright.

Thanks to everyone who retweeted my comments during the game and thanks to the encouraging comments I received. I doubled my followers today! You can me follow me on Twitter @Rimmerstweets

Some Related Man United Posts:Academy vs Everton – PreviewAcademy – Liverpool 6 v Man Utd 0The Academy BlogFAYC Semi: United 4 v Chelsea 0 (6-3agg) – ReportNo rest for the Academy: Italy, Game 1

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Saturday, 23 April 2011

Academy 1 v Everton 2 - Match Report

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