Under-21s beaten by United

Our Under-21s were left to rue missed chances on Friday evening as Manchester United ran out 2-0 winners in the Premier League 2.

In what was an evenly contested game, Oliver Irow, Max Robson and Jaden Williams all had good chances for us at the Leigh Sports Village but were unable to find a way past United goalkeeper Elya Harrison, who put in an inspired performance.

At the other end, the Red Devils were more clinical and managed to get the goals to give them all three points. Firstly, Malachi Sharpe pounced on a defensive error to open the scoring eight minutes before half-time before Jack Moorhouse doubled their advantage in the 73rd minute to take the game away from us.

Bar an early opportunity for the hosts - Sharpe hitting the crossbar from out on the right just two minutes in - our high-line stifled our hosts' attack for the opening half an hour in Greater Manchester. Throughout that period, we were the side in the ascendency and enjoyed a number of opportunities.

The first chance came for Robson - who flicked Tyrese Hall's in-swinging corner goalwards, but it was parried away by Harrison in the United goal. Irow was the next to force a save from Harrison. Involved once more, Robson won it back high up, fed the forward the ball on the edge of the area and he pulled off a neat turn to get away from a couple of red shirts before shooting and forcing a strong save. Moments later, he saw another effort blocked.

Unable to take our chances, our hosts took the lead two minutes later when Aaron Maguire was caught in possession. It initially fell to Chido Obi, he then played in Sharpe and he slotted home into an empty net.

The second half started with good openings for either side. Maguire made a big save to deny Moorhouse  before half-time substitute Williams' shot from inside the area forced a sprawling save from Harrison to prevent it from nestling into the bottom-right corner.

Sloppy play from the Red Devils saw us in once again moments later as Hall and Rio Kyerematen pounced and linked up on the right before the latter floated a ball into the box. Meeting it was Irow but his header was comfortably saved. Hall was involved again in our next chance; another in-swinging corner from the left was met by Maeson King this time but, again, Harrison was equal to it.

United then doubled their advantage with 17 minutes left to play as a swift counter-attack saw Moorhouse carry the ball from the halfway line and into our area before firing across Maguire and into the bottom-left corner.

With the game lost, we had two final chances to grab a consolation through Kyerematen and Ellis Lehane but both were denied, the former seeing his effort blocked before Lehane's acrobatic volley was saved.

The defeat leaves our Development Squad three points adrift of the play-off places.

Match Data

Goals: Manchester United - Sharpe 37, Moorhouse 73.

Yellow cards: Manchester United - Fredericson 60, McAllister 78, Obi 90+5; Spurs - Rowswell 78.

Referee: Michael Crusham.

Venue: Leigh Sports Village.

Weather: Strong winds, one degree.