Teams:
United: Tomas Kuszczak, David Gray, Danny Rose, Michael Lea, Craig Cathcart, Kieran Lee, Ji-sung Park (Jamie Mullan 46), Kieran Richardson, Alan Smith, Aaron Burns, Michael Barnes (Sean Evans 77)
Unused subs: Tom Heaton, Phil Marsh, Floribert Ngalula
City: Joe Hart, Shaleum Logan (Curtis Obeng 76), Sam Williamson, Nathan D'Laryea, Matt Mills, Paul Marshall, Kelvin Etuhu, Marc Laird, Ched Evans, Ashley Grimes (Karl Moore 65), Ashley Williams
Unused subs: Laurence Matthewson, Ben Mee, David Ball
Goals: 1-0 (Richardson 45), 2-0 (Smith 57)
Bookings:
United: Rose (12), Smith (60)
City: Williams (44), Laird (40)
A re-taken free kick by Keiran Richardson and an opportunistic strike by Alan Smith were the difference on a wet and windy night in Hyde for this reserves derby. City had looked good prior to the opening goal, and United's keeper kept the Blues out with some fine saves as City made a good attempt to salvage something after Smith had doubled the lead just before the hour.
The Match
United named a strong side, with Alan Smith continuing his comeback from his broken leg alongside Kieran Richardson and Ji-sung Park.
Conditions were due to be difficult for both sides, with heavy rain being blown down the pitch by a strong wind.
The weather dictated the few chances created early on, with a couple of United shots flying a long way over Hart’s bar thanks to the wind, and at the other end Kuszczak was able to slide in to intercept a pair of City through balls inside his area.
United’s Polish keeper had to be on his toes on 26 minutes when he plucked a looping Grimes header out from just under his crossbar.
City had the best of the possession for the rest of the half, frustrating the hosts with their three experienced internationals, but then on the stroke of half time United took the lead.
The Reds were awarded a free kick on the edge of the area, which the referee had retaken for encroachment by Ashley Williams. Keiran Richardson had blasted his first attempt at the wall, but at the second time of asking he curled the ball over the wall and into the bottom left hand corner of Hart’s net.
City could count themselves unlucky to go into the break one-down.
The Blues chased the game after the resumption, with Kelvin Etuhu driving a stinging shot straight at Kuszczak who blocked it with his legs.
But United doubled the lead on 57 minutes when Joe Hart mis-hit a clearance from the edge of his box, with the ball going straight to Smith around 35 yards out. The former Leeds man looked up and chipped the ball over the retreating City keeper and into the bottom corner of the net.
The one-time England striker picked up a booking three minutes later for kicking the ball out of Hart’s hands and into the net.
City’s young keeper did well to keep the score at 2-0 on 70 minutes, diving at Burns’ feet to deflect his shot over the bar.
Karl Moore, on as a substitute, crossed to Ched Evans with 10 minutes left, and the Welsh striker brought a fine save from Kuszczak, flying away to his left.
Smith went close again on 82, Laird clearing his shot from a tight angle off the line by the post. It was Laird who had a chance of his own at the other end shortly after, Kuszczak denying City again with another good block, but that was the last chance of the night, which had seen the Blues undone by two fine strikes from the most experienced of their opponents. United’s keeper, Kuszczak, had kept City at bay with some fine saves in the second half.
