Under 18's - Season Review

League season takes a backseat, as the Academy win the FA Youth Cup for the 10th time in Manchester United’s prestigious history.

August
The boys lost the last friendly match 3-1, to a very strong Spurs side at Carrington. But the league season starts off in a glorious way. After finding themselves 2-0 down at Cobham, the U-18’s battle back to win the game in usual United fashion with John Cofie scoring last minute winner to take the points back to Manchester. United then send 5 past Cardiff at Carrington, givingUnited a great start to the season.

September
It was a great start for the defenders with one scoring in every game at the start of the season. Tom Thorpe added his name to that list, scoring against Huddersfield as United eased past them, with Cofie and Cole getting the other goals. United hit a slight stumbling block as they draw next three games, against Middlesbrough and Sheffield United, both ending 1-1. And then against local rivals Manchester City, this game finishing 2-2.

October
United got back to wining ways with a thrilling 3-2 win at home to Blackburn Rovers, William Keane scoring a last minute penalty. They then go on to beat Stoke City, 4-0. Paul Pogba scoring the pick of the goals. The Reds then hit another block, dropping 3 points on Merseyside after another fantastic game. The Reds were unlucky not to get any points from this game.

November
In the next game the Reds went down 4-0 to Wolves. United put out a very inexperienced side, with Gyliano van Velzen handed his first start in a red shirt after his switch from Ajax. Again, the reds were on the losing side. This time going down 2-0 at home to local rivals Bolton Wanderers. United got back to winning ways. Beating West Brom 3-1 at Carrington, where John Cofie carried on his fantastic start to the season scoring two, while Jesse Lingard got the other.

December
The academy only played one game in December, with weather conditions causing havoc with their fixtures, as three games needed to be rearranged. The Reds ended the 2010 calender year in defeat going down 3-2 to Crewe Alexander. John Cofie and Sean McGinty carried on their fantastic goalscoring start to the season with the goals.

January
The next time we saw the Reds were in the FA Youth Cup, a competition the club would want to do well in after a disappointing run in it for the last number of years. The Reds started the game well, when Paul Pogba added to his reputation scoring a fantastic goal. The Reds were 3-0 up with 20 minutes to go. But after Gyliano van Velzen missed his penalty, United started to wobble. And in truth, were lucky to escape with the win.
A strong United side beat Wolves at Carrington in another fantastic game, as Sean McGinty scored a last gasp goal to give United the win. The Reds brought a narrow victory back from London after an early William Keane goal. The Reds were resolute at the back to keep the path to the final alive. The month ended in defeat, after coming away from Bolton with nothing to show. The Reds were unlucky not to get something from this game.

February
The Reds lost another two games, at the start of February. The first coming in a narrow defeat to West Brom with Paul Pogba scoring another fantastic goal, and the second coming at the hand of Crewe Alexander. United somehow lost this game 5-1 after being on top for most part. The FA Youth Cup was back on everyone’s mind, with United this time facing Newcastle at Altringham.
The star of the game was Ravel Morrison, he added to his ever growing reputation scoring the only goal of this game. The Reds won their next 2 games, beating Manchester City 6-1 at Carrington. This was arguably United’s best performance. As Larnel Cole scored a hat-trick United played this game without a recognised striker. They then beat Blackburn Rovers, again. Ravel Morrison and Jesse Lingard with the goals.

March
United spent most of March as they ended the last, without a recognised striker. But, somehow they managed to keep up a good run. United started the month with a draw at the hands of Stoke City, the Reds somehow managed to drop the points after it looked like a Paul Pogba penalty would give them the three points. When the FA Youth Cup returned, United were handed a mouth-watering tie against Liverpool. In true United - Liverpool style this was a feisty affair, with 5 goals and 4 red cards, although the referee seemed happy to hand them out. Who could forget this game? United battled back from two goals down, scoring 3 goals in front of the Kop.
United fans will remember the sight of Ravel Morrison kissing his badge in front of the packed Kop. United’s next game ended in a draw, this time 2-2 with Derby County, Paul Pogba scoring yet another fantastic goal. The Reds finished this month in winning ways, Luke Giverin scoring another last gasp winner against Newcastle United and then 2-0, at home to Sunderland. William Keane scored his first goal after returning from injury.

April
April got under way with a defeat, when United put out another inexperienced side with the FA Youth Cup only days away. This time Liverpool got all three points, to keep their title push alive. In the first of a two legged affair in the Semi Finals, United went down at Stamford Bridge. The Reds showed great resilience to give some hope for the return leg at Old Trafford. United put out an inexperienced side again against Liverpool, as most of the U-16’s made the step up.
This time the Reds went down 6-0, as late on Liverpool’s experience showed through. The Reds were back in the search for glory, as previous winners Chelsea visited Old Trafford. United were well up for the battle, with Ravel Morison scoring another, and William Keane scoring a typical William Keane hat-trick. The month ended in fantastic fashion, the Reds getting all three points after a tough game against Barnsley, with William Keane getting the crucial goal.

May
May was the month when the Reds hoped to put their names up in the spotlight as again they would face Sheffield United in the Youth Cup. But first up was a game against Leeds. United’s class showed through in this game, William Keane scoring twice, with Van Velzen scoring his first goal since joining in November. United’s togetherness showed through in the celebration, as the whole team gathered around to celebrate with him.
The FA Youth Cup was how United would end the season. At Bramall Lane, United twice dropped the lead. But it was a good scoreline to take into the home leg at Old Trafford. Six days later, the teams entered into battle again, United’s class showed through, as they won the game and the Youth Cup 4-1. William Keane kept his good run up, who alongside future star Ravel Morrison scored two goals each.