[Archived] Under 18's Match Report: Rovers 1 - 1 Manchester United

[Kamy100]

Parsonblue's match report from the Under 18's match:

Saturday 12^th September 2015 – The Premier Academy Under-18 League

Blackburn Rovers Under-18 1 v 1 Manchester United Under-18

Blackburn Rovers Under-18 (1) 1

Grayson 39

Andrew Fisher; Lewis Travis, Matthew Platt, Charley Doyle, Josh Askew; Lewis Hardcastle; Mason Fawns, Stefan Mols, Joseph Grayson (Joseph Rankin-Costello 69), Ramirez Howarth.

Subs not used: Joe Boyling (gk), Joel Steer, Stuart Callaway, Alex Curran.

Coach: Billy Barr

Manchester United Under-18 (0) 1

Rashford (penalty) 63

George Donnington; Warren Tyrell, Ro-Shaun Williams, Jimmy Dunne, Tyler Reid; Charlie Scott (Callum Whelan 62); Kayne Diedricke-Roberts (Jake Kenyon 62), Callum Gribbin, Tosin Kehinde, Angel Gomes; Marcus Rashford.

Subs not used: Matty Campbell (gk), Lewis Thompson, Harry Spratt.

Coach: Paul McGuinness

Referee: Mr. M. Hooper

Bookings: Blackburn Rovers Under-18 – Lewis Travis

Manchester United Under-18 – Tosin Kehinde, Tyrell Warren

The Under-18’s impressive start to the season continued with this hard won point in a highly competitive game at Brockhall.

The Rovers started brightly and dominated the opening fifteen minutes with Lewis Hardcastle spreading the ball around from a deeper position in midfield.

An excellent flowing move enabled Joe Grayson to fire a shot wide and then Lewis Mansell hit a drive straight at George Dorrington in the United goal. Mansell then rose to head the ball towards goal but Dorrington held the ball just under the crossbar.

The Rovers were playing some fast, flowing football that had the United defence at full stretch.

United finally made a serious threat when Marcus Rashford went on a good run on the right but was stopped with a tackle as he got into the area. From the resultant corner, Andrew Fisher came out and caught the ball in confident fashion.

Just past the fifteen minute mark the impressive Grayson fired another long range effort over the bar as the Rovers continued to put pressure on the visitors.

United threatened on the counter-attack and Fisher had to be alert when a speculative through pass looked to have opened up the defence but the ‘keeper was quick off his line to collect the ball.

Mansell then went down in the area under a challenge from Angel Gomes and despite appeals for a penalty, Mr. Hooper remained unmoved and allowed play to carry on.

United responded with a decent move of their own down the left wing but when the ball came to Tyler Reid, the full-backs cross was woeful and went out for a goal-kick.

Another flowing move which saw several players swapping passes at speed ended with Grayson hitting another powerful long range effort over the bar.

The Rovers almost broke the deadlock when Josh Askew whipped in a ball to the far post where Mansell and a defender went up to meet the cross and the ball flew back across the area for Stefan Mols to head the ball against the crossbar.

On the half-hour mark Fisher was called into action when he had to push a free-kick from Callum Gribbin over his crossbar. Fisher then had to make a save at the foot of the post when Ro-Shaun Williams fed Gribbin and the United man moved into the area before hitting a fierce shot which Fisher did well to hold.

Grayson then played a peach of a pass through the United defence which set Mansell free but as he cut into the area his cross was blocked for a corner.

The Rovers finally broke the deadlock on thirty-nine minutes when Reid miscued a pass and put the ball straight to Grayson who took it into the area before picking his spot and almost passing the ball into the net past a stranded Dorrington. It was no more than the Rovers deserved as they had been by far the better side up to that point.

The Rovers might well have increased their lead moments later when Ramierz Howarth cut in from the left and curled an effort just inches wide of the far post.

Early in the second half, Grayson’s free kick was pushed against the post by Dorrington and then Mansell broke free of the defence but fired wide as the Rovers continued to press in search of a second goal.

Eventually, United started to enjoy more possession and Tyrell Warren got forward from right-back and popped up in the area but dragged the ball wide when in a good shooting position.

The Rovers did get the ball into the net when Mason Fawns headed home but the celebrations were cut short by a linesman who had signalled that Fawns was in an offside position.

The game had become an end to end affair with some fairly robust challenges going in which led to more than one confrontation between the players.

After, sixty-three minutes United drew level from the penalty spot. Gomes was brought down in the area by Charley Doyle and the referee, rightly, awarded a penalty. Rashford, who had been a constant threat, stepped up and beat Fisher from the spot despite the ‘keeper diving the right way and almost getting a hand to the ball.

Grayson then sent in a header which Dorrington managed to get a hand to the ball and keep it out. Mols then got into the area but his shot went straight to Dorrington whilst both Gomes and Jake Kenyon had shots which Fisher held.

Both sides gave everything in tricky conditions with driving rain at times making it far from easy for both sets of players. In the end a draw was a fair result although one suspects that the Rovers will be disappointed that they didn’t make the most of the numerous chances they created in the first half.

There were a number of excellent performances from the youngsters. Andrew Fisher was a safe pair of hands in goal whilst Matthew Platt was outstanding at the heart of the defence. Lewis Hardcastle, Joe Grayson and Stefan Mols all played well in midfield both in creating chances and in defending when required. Lewis Mansell was a willing runner up front and caused the United defence a number of problems with his robust style of play.