#travis binnion

[unitedbydevils]

Match Review: Manchester United U21s 5-1 Southampton U21s

Under the watchful eyes of Ruben Amorim, Darren Fletcher, Nick Cox and Jason Wilcox, United's academy prospects put on a reet show.

Ethan Wheatley almost got United off to a flyer in the 5th minute but a great throughball to the forward was met with a tame shot straight at the Southampton keeper.

United kept up the pressure though, and the Gore/Tyler Fletcher midfield duo was working nicely for the possession retention. These two would be the difference makers in the first half, with Tyler bagging in the 15th minute by hitting a STUNNING volley into the floor to bounce and loop over the outstretched arms of Adli Mohamed in the Soton net.

Gore would double United's lead thanks to poor defensive passing from the south coast side, with a bit of pinball passing from the United frontline coming back to Gore for a low, left-footed finish which - being honest - the keeper should have done better with.

A lovely throughball from Dan Gore - him again - in the 52nd minutes allowed Jack Moorhouse to outrun the Southampton defence and slot coolly past Mohamed to make it 3-0 United. Again, the keeper should have done more to protect his near post, but it was a good finish and a better pass - perfectly weighted.

Five minutes later and more poor defending was pounced on by United's front press, with Gore teeing up Ethan Wheatley for a looping first-time finish into the far top corner. 4-0, game over.

Of course, it's United, so never assume it's game over lmao. Five minutes after the Wheatley goal, Southampton bagged themselves a consolation; a laser-guided free kick from the wide right meeting the height of the unmarked Baylee Dipepa. A tough one to stop, but the lack of awareness... a little worrying. Hopefully it was just focus dropping at 4-0, rather than a genuine lack of scanning.

Right at the death there was a bit more Moorhouse Magic to come. Mee played out to Jack from the back, who drove up most of the pitch himself. Ball goes wide, back to Moorhouse, rides two tackles and wiggles through the box, to then poke home into the bottom corner. Southampton had more in the box than not and he still scored. You love to see it.

The two real standouts were Jack Moorhouse and Dan Gore.

Gore is somewhat of a known entity amongst United fans given his featuring in the first team briefly. He's a talented midfielder with a shot on him. My current feeling is Darron Gibson vibes, which isn't meant as a jibe - he was a good player and had a good career. The thing for Gore is if he can progress his potential to being more of a Keane or Charlton. He's certainly working hard, so here's hoping.

Moorhouse... in the words of Academy Arena: "Moorhouse is the Jack of all trades. Ball-carrying on lock. Tight space dribbling dialled. Passes kept simple. Shots fully loaded. Injuries have deprived him of playing time so it’s good to see him out there doing what he loves."

Collyer is still on the first team squad fringe, but I could see Gore being back there imminently too. For the likes of Moorhouse, Ennis, Wheatley, Amass... it feels like a little more work is needed. Maybe loans in January. We wait and see.

Next up - Leeds away, Friday 10th Jan, 7pm. A spicy start to the New Year which hopefully can be a big win to kick the year off right.

[streetreporters]

United Set For FA Youth Cup Quarter-Final

United Set For FA Youth Cup Quarter-Final

After triumphing 4-1 over Everton in the fifth round, the Reds will welcome Leicester on Thursday 24 February at Old Trafford for the Quarter-Final FA Youth Cup. Travis Binnion’s young side have twice played at the Theatre of Dreams already this season, beating Scunthorpe United 4-2 in the third round before overcoming Everton at the famous stadium. In between, United got a 3-1 away win over…

[unitedbydevils]

Match Review: Manchester United U21s 1-3 Sparta Praha U21s

There's two ways of looking at this: United remain winless in the Premier League International Cup or United fall to their first defeat in the cup. You decide.

Again, no footage on this. Class. Love that for our youth setup.

United took an early lead in the 8th minute through Ethan Wheatley, who is currently being eyed by Stockport County and Wrexham for a January loan move but in this moment was set up by prolific G/A machine James Scanlon.

Then for about 30 minutes not a lot happened. Cue CARNAGE.

Sparta Praha (Prague) scored three in three minutes. Hwhat. Left midfielder Hynek Hruška scored from a short pass in the box from striker Radek Šiler. Then United kicked off. Praha won the ball back immediately rinse and repeat, Šiler scores. Kick off. United try a charge. Wheatley comes close. Praha go long with the goal kick. Down, into the box, finish for Hruška.

I'd love to describe the second half more but the United recap and other comments don't really say much. Maybe it was good? Maybe it was boring? Binnion used all five subs for United to no avail... yeah.

Next up - United U19s play tomorrow night at 7pm at Old Trafford against AZ Alkmaar U19s, going into the knockout second leg 2-1 down.

[unitedbydevils]

Match Review: Manchester United U21s 1-0 West Ham United U21s

A 95th minute goal from forward Ethan Ennis gave United a crucial three points at home to West Ham, in a mid-table battle that United need to start to pull clear of if any of the prospects want to catch the eye of Ruben Amorim.

A free-kick from Ennis in the D was beautifully bounced to loop over the outstretched goalkeeper's arm and give Manchester United three points, much to the delight of the LSV crowd, but it was an otherwise unremarkable match (highlights below) that actually saw West Ham have slightly more possession and slightly more chances in front of goals.

The last-gasp win ties United and West Ham on 15 points apiece in the U21 PL, with both teams having won 5, lost 4, but the Red Devils having a superior goal difference of one goal lmao. Banter.

Unlike in the U18 PL, United aren't the same dominant force in the league - currently sitting nine points behind City after nine games. It may be this quality in depth that Ruben Amorim was referring to when he said he expected

[unitedbydevils]

Match Review: Manchester City U21s 2-0 Manchester United U21s

Bugger.

Last Friday saw City come out on top against the mighty Reds in the semi final of the U21PL playoffs, meaning a final against Southampton awaits.

Goals from Divin Mubama in the 66th and 90th minutes respectively sealed the tie for the Citizens, taking Mubama's PL2 total to five for the season - his first at City and one patchy with cameos for the first team to test his readiness.

Interestingly, City won't be keeping hold of Mubama in the U21s next season, with the player likely to move on elsewhere. Personally, a club like West Brom - in dire need of a striker - could be a good destination to help develop into a Delap or a Kane.

Back to this game though, and it's not even something we can fault. City's U21 side are truly brilliant, and whilst we're battling neck-and-neck at U18 level and below, our U21s is usually a touch weaker through loans or first team call-ups.

City were faster, stronger, and more technically proficient than United, though Wheatley and Kone were standouts for United. I'm not sure Ethan will stay at United much longer, and his Walsall loan spell was frustrating in League Two, but he has a future in League One or the Championship. He had City's defence on the backfoot with his pace, agility and control. Like Mubama he needs someone to give him time.

United's defensive positioning and marking was at fault for City's first, but the one touch passing to breach us for the second - and Mubama's cheeky back flick into the net - were just sumptuous. Shit happens, and it did. Top quality stuff.

So that's it. U21 season over... or is it? Chelsea on Friday, Amorim not wanting to risk senior players before Spurs (and likewise them before their final)... a battle of the U21s for a laugh?

[unitedbydevils]

Match Review: Manchester United U21s 5-1 West Bromwich Albion U21s

Oops.

United's academy starlets once again showed their skills in a 5-1 demolition of West Bromwich Albion at Leigh Sports Village.

Amazingly, all five of United's goals came in the first half - provided by Biancheri, Scanlon, Mantato, and twice by Jack Fletcher.

Goal 1 - Kukonki to Tyler Fletcher, out wide to Mantato, back into the box and tapped in by Biancheri. Simple but tricky. Good poacher's finish and his 18th of the season in all comps.

Goal 2 - Two minutes later and Scanlon doubled United's lead; a long diag from Kukonki found Sam Murray on the wing and his ball in was mishit by Biancheri but tapped home by the Gibraltan.

Goal 3 - In the 27th minute it was 3-0 thanks to Bendito Mantato, who was delightfully fed a through ball by Gabi Biancheri and then faced up the LCB, feinted, jinked to the side of him and buried a shot in the Albion net. Not bad for the lad's first U21 appearance.

Goal 4 - Four minutes from HT and Tyler Fletcher, hanging wide right, fizzed a square pass to the edge of the Baggies box for twin Jack to fire home in the bottom left corner. Brotherly instincts.

Goal 5 - One minute from HT and it was all a bit rinse and repeat. Ogguneye and Tyler Fletcher playing some good give-and-go wide right and then Tyler fizzed another more diagonal low pass into the box for brother Jack to tap home. Darren must have been buzzing.

We don't need to talk about the second half. Nowt happened and West Brom scored a penalty. It would have been nice to see United do more but sometimes the instructions are to play safe, avoid injury, keep yourself available for those first team cameo chances.

There's a bit of a gap now and then it's Leeds away, 7pm on Monday 31st March. Lets hope we go stick it on them.

[unitedbydevils]

Match Review: Manchester United U21s 0-1 Fulham U21s

Third place United fell to a slim one-goal defeat against second place Fulham, with a significant number of players absent due to their temporary promotion to the First Team squad.

There's not too much to say here: United edged the first half and looked to be more in control, but Fulham looked the more dangerous.

Ayden Heaven got his first start for the U21s with a pre-planned 45 minute appearance, replaced by Tyler Fredricson for the second half. Heaven had played very comfortably, but did pick up a silly yellow card moments before the half-time whistle. Something we associate with age but a useful insight into why he isn't Lissandro Martinez 2.0 just yet.

United's front three of Musa, Scanlon and Sharpe looked dangerous as per usual, but again I liked the workrate of Finley McAllister alongside the intelligence and technique of Jim Thwaites.

Despite this, it was Callum Osmand who was the man of the night. A narrow miss 35 minutes into the game was despair-worthy, but his timing and running had United panicking, and it's no surprise he finally scored in the 55th minute; a beautiful square pass from Lemar Gordon to put in Osmand.

Fredricson will be disappointed on the replay with how static he was though. You can clearly see that while Osmand ran through the defence at a smart angle so as to confuse markers, and it was a good finish, Fredricson was the marker. He very clearly had scanned and seen him, yet he was either flat-footed or ball watching or naively expected no such pass and was left a yard behind the striker and had to watch him slot past Will Murdock.

Defeat means United slip to fourth, behind West Ham, and our next game is Friday night against fifth place Chelsea - away. Oh joy.

[unitedbydevils]

Match Review: Manchester United U21s 2-0 Tottenham Hotspur U21s

Lads, it's only Spurs.

Goals from Malachi Sharpe in the first half and Jack Moorhouse in the second secured a valuable three points in the U21PL that moved United into third place in the league after what had been a slow start to the season.

United took the lead 36 minutes in after a weird bit of play from Spurs keeper Aaron Joseph Maguire, well out of his box playing as almost a CB. His dithering on the ball allowed Sharpe to close him down, Obi to win the loose ball, and an instant bounce pass to fall back into the feet of Malachi Sharpe for an easy low driven finish into the goal.

Spurs before and after this were very competitive; almost identical passing stats for possession and accuracy, if not fractionally higher than United, but United's greater comfort running with the ball and having a go was evident. That being said, Oliver Irow the Spurs no9 and Tyrese Hall the no10 both looked very comfortable and perhaps could be the next big things out of their academy - like Mikey Moore - to break through and nab some first team minutes.

Sharpe could have added a second just before half time but he hit a tame shot wide of the left post from close range, and after the break United immediately picked up from the same position; Jack Moorhouse fizzing a shot at Maguire which was tipped over.

Offensive full backs in Amass and Kamason is quite bold for United's U21s, which explains why Spurs got the chances off they did, but Murray, Fredricson, and keeper Elyh Harrison - with the supporting full backs - did defend confidently.

United would then double their lead and secure the win in the 73rd minute. A backline clearance from Harry Amass near the corner flag looped into space for Jack Moorhouse to run onto. Then, from the middle of United's half, he raced the length of the pitch away from Max Robson to tuck away a close range finish past Maguire. Elite.

With United in need of more 10s in Ruben Amorim's first team squad, it's hard not to look at the left sided attacking position of Moorhouse and his comfort on the ball, his pace, strength, agility, and shooting, and think that he's not worth a cameo. Injury has been an issue for him and Shea Lacey - who I also rate very highly and would suit the right 10 - but regardless, Moorhouse's return to action and subsequent form cannot be overlooked. I'm aware he has been training with the first team, so the brass are aware of him like Kukonki, Obi, Kone etc, but the question is when?

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Next up for the U21s is a tough home tie against second place Fulham on Monday February 17. United have a game in hand but sit seven points behind the Londoners, so we need to win here and the game in hand to stay in contention for a late title push.

[unitedbydevils]

Match Review: Manchester United U21s 1-3 FC Nordsjælland U21s

United were already out of the Premier League International Cup, but in one final game in Altrincham it was the Danish visitors conquering on English soil once again.

Travis Binnion's Reds seemed to be weirdly set up in their 4-3-3:

GK: Myles

RB: Ogunneye

CB: Jackson (c), Kukonki (Kingdon 45)

LB: Amass

DM: Kone (McAllister 62)

CM: Moorhouse (Ibragimov 62)

CM: Curley (Fitzgerald 62)

RW: Missin (Sharpe 70)

LW: Mather

CF: Obi

I describe this as weird because it didn't seem like a flat 4-3-3 but rather a staggered 2-3-2-3, with the full backs of Amass and Ogunneye pushing up aggressively. This was a problem because Nordsjaelland seemingly drifted through United's midfield at every opportunity and were left 2v2 or 3v2 against our CBs with regularity.

United's attack was decent, but without possession, and on the back foot so often, it never felt like their game to win.

Thomas Myles was busy from the off, especially with the U21s trying to play out from the back and seeming to struggle with the Danish pressing game. A couple of good saves against Nene kept the score even but a poor pass from Ogunneye (who really struggled all game) would allow Nene in. Kukonki cleared off the line for United but a lack of support and timing meant Araphat could capitalise and score to make it 1-0. Here I will criticise Ogunneye and Amass - they're full backs in this formation, not wing backs like they might prefer. Get back and defend. Kone did. Jackson and Kukonki needed help and they had 1 teammate get in there.

In classic United fashion, the visitors scored again 90 seconds later: poor passing around the back saw keeper Myles gift the ball to Nene and bag for himself this time. Not surprising given the hot prospect youngster has had I believe 9, maybe 10, Danish Superliga appearances this season. One to watch out for.

The game calmed a little and United crept back into things, but six minutes into the second half and Nordsjaelland had their third - and a second for Nene. A whipped corner found the head of Nene, the reflex hands of Myles, but his parry wasn't strong enough to keep out the low, darting header from Nordsjaelland's no9 and United were sinking without a trace.

A great Finley McAllister through ball set 17-year-old Chido Obi through on goal for a cool finish being chased by several opposition players to give United at least some consolation, but it was too rare a moment to do much in the tie and United limped out of the competition in disappointing fashion.

It should be said that typically United's U18s flourish and the U21s suffer a little, especially with the best being promoted to the first team or loaned out, and there being borrowing from the U18s to assist but adapatation still required. United were also without goal machine Gabi Biancheri, currently injured, and no doubt his movement and tenacity would have caused trouble for the Danes.

[unitedbydevils]

Match Review: Rochdale 0-1 Manchester United U21s

The boy wonder was at it again, and was even doing flips and shit.

Manchester United maintained their win streak in Group B of the National League Cup thanks to attacking midfielder Amir Ibragimov, with the starlet scoring in the 82nd minute to give United a narrow lead but a big three points.

United started brightly at Rochdale’s Crown Oil Arena in front of a decent 3,681 person crowd, but it was Rochdale who had the first efforts on goal and tested Dermot Mee.

Mid-first half and Ethan Wheatley had a header on target, United's first real chance, and minutes later he finally got a shot off too - albeit slightly off target.

Dan Gore - putting in the minutes now he's back from injury - lived up to his grade 2 haircut with a random shove in the back of a Rochdale player to concede a free-kick, and was very lucky to get no booking.

A last-gasp counter attack from Wheatley and Ennis left Ennis 1v1 with the keeper outside the box and an early finish sailed over the goal, but a little more composure might have given United the lead before half-time.

The second half saw Dan Gore down injured, Ethan Wheatley shoot over yet again, Jack Moorhouse pull out another Kaka-esque run, but nothing was clicking and it felt like it wouldn't be our day. Cue Chido Obi.

Unburdened by the -Martin part of his surname, Obi received short outside the box from Jack Fletcher out wide, before teeing up Amir Ibragimov in space to run at the D and shoot. Ibragimov, who'd been close with a header in the 65th minute, finally got a deserved reward for his efforts and hit a low, tight effort bottom left past Rochdale's keeper - before going full acrobat in celebration.

The win over an admittedly rotated Rochdale side gives United a great chance of progression in this competition.

[unitedbydevils]

Match Review: Altrincham 0-4 Manchester United U21s

This match nearly caught me out, because Google's fixture listing doesn't have the National League Cup games on it. Rude.

Three goals from Ethan Ennis (above) and one from Amir Ibragimov (below) gave United's U21s a strong victory away at nearby Altrincham; based in southwest Greater Manchester and currently sat mid-table in the National League.

It's a promising season for United's U18s and normally the U21s suffer from that, with prospects pushed out to loans or absorbed into the First Team, but United's U21s are starting to look like a tasty side too - most notably Harry Amass, Sam Mather, Ethan Ennis, and Amir Ibragimov.

Ennis' first goal after 16 minutes was a banger, rifled in to the top right corner. Altrincham battled a bit but then 10 minutes later... Ethan Ennis hits another banger at the top right corner from the left side of the box.

It would then quieten down a bit until a Victor Musa effort rebounded off the crossbar for Ibragimov to tap home for 3-0, and then Ennis would secure his hat-trick in the 90th minute on a counter-attack after a great throughball but an even better chipped finish over the outstretched Altrincham keeper.

This and the 3-2 win over National League leaders Forest Green Rovers means United are looking very promising for progression in the cup - something we didn't achieve in the Football League Trophy.

United's next fixture NOW is that evening home tie vs West Ham at Leigh Sports Village on November 29th at 7pm. We've no indication of it being on MUTV but it's a Friday night... so maybe.

[unitedbydevils]

Out of the Cup

Well, we were damn close to progressing based on points in the group stage, but a rough 4-1 defeat to Huddersfield eliminates United's U21s from the Football League Trophy.

It is rare for U21 sides to qualify to the knockout stages, but a win and a draw in the bag for United, plus a penalty shootout win for a bonus point, meant United just needed a draw to progress. Huddersfield, however, had to win to progress - and that explains why 9 of their 11 were first choice picks designed to give them the best chance possible in the competition.

No shade on that though - this is the nature of the contest and the sport; we had absences in Ethan Wheatley and Jack Fletcher on international duty too. Call-ups and injuries and being the underdog do happen.

Dermot Mee was called into action after just 21 seconds, and United would hold out under the cosh until the 29th minute when Ben Wiles hammered home from distance.

Victor Musa, leading the line for the U21s, would get United back level just before half time with a cheeky backheel flick after good battling from Ogunneye and a nice cutback inside the box from Ethan Ennis.

Huddersfield did have an appeal for a penalty waved away in the 58th minute of play after Mickel Miller was adjudged to have slipped in the box, rather than been fouled by Ogunneye, but this didn't help United much with late, late goals from David Kasamu in the 90th minute and Tom Lees in the 97th minute consigning United to a cup exit.

The result sees Doncaster Rovers and Huddersfield Town progress, whilst United's U21s and Barnsley - who finished on zero points - are eliminated.

With the aforementioned international games on, United's next game is at home on Friday November 29th against West Ham. A 7pm kick-off at Leigh Sports Village.

[unitedbydevils]

Match Review: Forest Green Rovers 2-3 Manchester United U21s

The U21s love a goalfest in games against the men's sides don't they?

Above: Malachi Sharpe, scorer of United's first goal.

A bananas first half saw United go behind to Forest Green after just three minutes, with Christian Doidge burying a low finish inside the far post.

Ethan Ennis posed a particular threat to the Rovers, but it was Malachi Sharpe in the 29th minute who bagged the equaliser for United - tapping home a driven low cross from Ennis.

Four minutes later and United basically did the same again; patient play from the Reds put Habeeb Ogunneye in prime position in the right corner to drill another low cross in, and Ethan Ennis popped up to tap home. 1-2 United.

The lead would last all of two minutes until Harvey Bunker drilled one into the United net, but all sympathies have to be with keeper Dermot Mee as the wayward shot took a huge deflection off defender Jack Kingdon and looped back over the helpless goalie.

Baumann and Quigley each had their chances for United and FGR respectively, but it was a defensive lapse against a United counter-attack that allowed Victor Musa the time and space to shine and bag United's winning goal in the 77th minute.

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The National League Cup is a new competition between the 'best' U21 sides in England (Premier League and some Championship) and National League sides. All games will be held at the National League team grounds, and these clubs will keep the gate receipts in full to help with their sustainability and avoid collapse akin to that of teams like Bury.

United are in Group 2 with fellow U21 sides Blackburn Rovers, Stoke City and Wolverhampton Wanderers, and will play against Altrincham, Forest Green Rovers, Oldham Athletic, and Rochdale.

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Next up for United is a league away trip to Blue Flames Sporting Club at Whitley Park in Newcastle on October 26th, to take on the Geordies.

[unitedbydevils]

Match Review: Barnsley 2-3 Manchester United U21

We love a good United comeback at the death, and that's exactly what Jack Fletcher delivered - and in front of his dad!

United began their cup run in the EFL Trophy poorly, conceding to Barnsley striker Vimal Yoganathan after just 10 minutes and giving the young Welsh striker his first senior goal for the club.

A poor backpass from Harry Amass (the second in two games 👀) to a ball-watching Tyler Fredricson left United at the mercy of Kyran Lofthouse - who squared neatly to an unmarked Yoganathan. Manager Travis Binnion will be disappointed in the other centre back Louis Jackson too, who was several yards upfield and either not aware or not respecting the danger Barnsley's strikers presented.

Both sides kept the game going at a good pace; end to end football even despite the torrential rain that swept in midway through the half. Barnsley struck again though in the 37th minute; again through Yoganathan and again assisted by a Lofthouse cutback. Frustratingly for the manager, United had 7 in the box - plus the keeper - versus Barnsley's 3.

2,638 turned out to Oakwell for the evening game, including Martin Devaney - Barnsley assistant manager and United player Jacob Devaney's dad. In the stands were United's technical director Jason Wilcox, deputy football director Andy O'Boyle, interim director of recruitment Christopher Vivell, academy director Nick Cox, and ex-United star & Scotland international turned first team coach slash... some sort of first team/academy transition role? It's Darren "i've got twins smashing it for the academy" Fletcher.

Of course, it would take until late in the second half for the attacking twin - Jack - to show up and show off, subbed on in the 57th minute for Ruben Curley.

Barnsley flashed one across goal straight away in the second half, but following the introduction of Fletcher it was one-way traffic in United's favour; the attacking mid seeming to unlock Barnsley and unleash Ethans Wheatley and Ennis respectively.

Ennis finally got United on the scoreboard thanks to a lovely one-bounce low cross from James Nolan on the right wing, deep into the middle of the box and curled home into the mid left of the net.

Goal number two was a WORLDIE from Jack Fletcher. The socials blew up as three minutes later Harry Amass won an aerial ball, spun past the next man, and before he could touch it again Jack Fletcher hits a sumptuous volley top bins, upper left corner of the net, with Ben Killip at full stretch and unable to do anything.

Victory would come ANOTHER three minutes later with Jack Fletcher the man of the moment. A good throw-in from the right sideline found Fletcher in decent space, who then for some mad reason was left to drift across the box before hitting a cute left-foot finish back across his body, through the Barnsley defensive crowd, and in low at the keeper's near post before he could even see it. 3-2 United, comeback complete.

There was a little extra drama in the final moments, with Harry Amass going down after a challenge from Corey O'Keefe - RCM for Barnsley. The match camera didn't show the incident but Amass gestured that he'd been elbowed in the head, and moments later the referee sent O'Keefe off - seconds before the end of the game.

A disappointing end for the young Barnsley side, but a good comeback for United's youth in a tricky away game off the back of a rough defeat to Arsenal.

The next cup tie is another away trip in late September, to Doncaster Rovers, but for now the lads prepare for a home game in the league against Stoke City at 7pm on Friday.

[unitedbydevils]

Match Review: Manchester United U21s 4-2 Norwich City U21s

What's the Mather with you?

Sam Mather, pictured above, led United to glory at home to Norwich as the youngster bagged all four goals to give United a deserved three points.

Mather converted a lofted cross from Scanlon near the back post to get things started, before adding a second with a beautiful free kick from 30 yards out - nestled into the top right corner.

Scanlon played assist maker again, cutting in and shooting in a manner Antony could only dream of, before Mather poked home the rebound to secure his hat-trick.

Norwich ended the half with something of a consolation goal, finding success down United's right flank and managing to get the ball in to striker Ken Aboh's feet before he hit hard and low past Mee.

The second half was a more resigned, stagnant affair with both sides dropping intensity, but the game woke back up with Mather's fourth; a lovely pass across the box to the unmarked forward. Mather brought it forward back towards the Norwich defence before curling his shot off the inside right post to make it 4-1.

A mix-up between keeper Mee and player/coach Tom Huddlestone led to a goalmouth scramble and a 2nd goal for Norwich, knocked in by Aidan Manning, but that fluke was the last flashpoint of the half as the game fell back into the same early half rhythms and finished 4-2.

In what was a very even game based on possession, shots, fouls, passing accuracy, United came out on top and are now 10th in the U21 league. United have 17 points now and a +12 goal difference, leaping Norwich City, Chelsea and Sunderland each by just one point.

[unitedbydevils]

Match Review: Manchester United U21s 3-2 Newcastle United U21s

A win at Carrington for Travis Binnion's boys to round out the year. Not bad at all.

James Nolan opened the scoring early for United, but Newcastle almost immediately equalised with a well worked switch from left mid to right wing and back across.

Winger Mateo Mejia was brought down in the middle of the first half bang in the middle of the Newcastle box. Up stepped Joe Hugill to put United back in front.

Sam Mather's excellent free kick hit the bar just before half time, but United looked good as the half ended. This, inevitably, didn't translate to after half time and Newcastle managed to equalise yet again.

More magic from Mejia saw United keep fighting and eventually a break opened up down the right wing, with the wide man holding off the Newcastle LB, riding the tackle into the box, and squaring the ball to a primed Shola Shoretire who curled in a nice finish to secure the three points for the Red Devils.