On a very cold but bright afternoon in Manchester, a young United reserve team faced Accrington Stanley in the Lancashire Senior Cup.
Richie DeLaet made his competitive debut for the Reds who also had Febian Brandy back in the team after his loan spell with Swansea.
There was a small crowd in attendance at the Cliff, harking back to the 'old days' when games were regularly played at this ground on mid-week afternoons.
United started the match with most of the play and took an early lead when Macheda was nicely put through on the edge of the box and calmly slotted the ball home past the advancing keeper. United continued to press and Brandy got United's second goal when he met a cross from the right and hit it low under the keeper's body. To be fair, the keeper should have stopped it but perhaps Brandy hit it early which fooled him. The Red's continued to press and Fabio had a good run down the left, playing a couple of neat 1:2's before breaking into the box and shooting for goal, but the keeper made a fine save.
Half time: Manchester United 2 Accrington Stanley 0
The Reds made two changes at half time, Joe Dudgeon coming on for Fabio and Jimmy Derbyshire replacing Richard Eckersley. Both Ecks and Fabio were returning from injury so it was perhaps no surprise that they only lasted half a game. Then on 51 minutes, United got a free-kick just outside the box. Up stepped Petrucci who curled a peach of a shot past the keeper to make it 3-0 and effectively end the contest. A few minutes later Brandy was hurt in a bad tackle and was replaced. Febian looked a little unfit, no surprise really when you consider he has hardly played any football all season.
For the remainder of the game United were in total control and had numerous chances to add to the scoreline, but the efforts were either well saved by the keeper, blocked by the defence or just over the bar.
For United Macheda and Petrucci were excellent as was Drinkwater in midfield. De Laet was strong but to be fair not really tested. Once again Matty James controlled everything around him and was easily 'Man Of The Match'.
Full time: Manchester United 3 Accrington Stanley 0
Team:
1. Amos
2. Eckersley
3. F. Da Silva
4. C. Evans (capt)
5. De Laet
6. James
7. Brandy
8. Drinkwater
9. Macheda
10. Petrucci
11. Bryan
12. Derbyshire (2) - '46
13. Woods
14. Dudgeon (3) - '46
15. Norwood (7) - '56
Scorers: Macheda '7, Brandy '21, Petrucci '52
United now play Rochdale away in the next round.
Richie DeLaet made his competitive debut for the Reds who also had Febian Brandy back in the team after his loan spell with Swansea.
There was a small crowd in attendance at the Cliff, harking back to the 'old days' when games were regularly played at this ground on mid-week afternoons.
United started the match with most of the play and took an early lead when Macheda was nicely put through on the edge of the box and calmly slotted the ball home past the advancing keeper. United continued to press and Brandy got United's second goal when he met a cross from the right and hit it low under the keeper's body. To be fair, the keeper should have stopped it but perhaps Brandy hit it early which fooled him. The Red's continued to press and Fabio had a good run down the left, playing a couple of neat 1:2's before breaking into the box and shooting for goal, but the keeper made a fine save.
Half time: Manchester United 2 Accrington Stanley 0
The Reds made two changes at half time, Joe Dudgeon coming on for Fabio and Jimmy Derbyshire replacing Richard Eckersley. Both Ecks and Fabio were returning from injury so it was perhaps no surprise that they only lasted half a game. Then on 51 minutes, United got a free-kick just outside the box. Up stepped Petrucci who curled a peach of a shot past the keeper to make it 3-0 and effectively end the contest. A few minutes later Brandy was hurt in a bad tackle and was replaced. Febian looked a little unfit, no surprise really when you consider he has hardly played any football all season.
For the remainder of the game United were in total control and had numerous chances to add to the scoreline, but the efforts were either well saved by the keeper, blocked by the defence or just over the bar.
For United Macheda and Petrucci were excellent as was Drinkwater in midfield. De Laet was strong but to be fair not really tested. Once again Matty James controlled everything around him and was easily 'Man Of The Match'.
Full time: Manchester United 3 Accrington Stanley 0
Team:
1. Amos
2. Eckersley
3. F. Da Silva
4. C. Evans (capt)
5. De Laet
6. James
7. Brandy
8. Drinkwater
9. Macheda
10. Petrucci
11. Bryan
12. Derbyshire (2) - '46
13. Woods
14. Dudgeon (3) - '46
15. Norwood (7) - '56
Scorers: Macheda '7, Brandy '21, Petrucci '52
United now play Rochdale away in the next round.
