United's Kids - Not the Pride of Manchester

MCFC U18s 3 - 2 MUFC U18s

Manchester United were yet again shown by the better half of Manchester how to develop young players with the game against the league leaders being a loss. United also had a rather favourable referee who decided to award them a very generous penalty, but order was resumed as England youth international, Danny Welbeck had his shot saved by Filip Mentel. City's goals came from Robbie Mak, Ian Daly and Donal McDermott. United had taken an early lead, but Mak equalized soon after. City took the score to three, one; but later in the game they took their foot of the pedal and allowed United to score a soft goal to give the score line a less realistic reading of the game which City controlled for the most part. Having played third place United, City go away next week to second place Everton where they will hope to stamp their authority on the league title that they easily won last season.

City: Mentel(GK), Trippier, McGivern, Ramsey, Mee, Kay, Weiss, Tsiaklis, I Daly, Mak, McDermott.

Subs: Clegg(GK), Morris, Poole, D Ball, Robinson.

City's U16s could not continue their winning ways but fought out a one all draw with United's U16s.

Derby Beaten by One More

DCFC U18s 0 - 5 MCFC U18s

Derby County and City met at a pre-season training camp at Crewe and Alsager university and the score was 5 - 1 to City then, this league game however, the blues were able to shut out Derby and maintain their comanding position at the top of their league group with 16 points from their opening six games and a plus eighteen goal difference. City's goals came from Ian Daly, Ben Mee, Ben Morris, David Ball and Scott Kay. City's closest rivals, Everton, kept their identical record to City after a 2-1 victory over Sunderland, but they only have a goal difference of plus seven.

City's U16s continued their winning ways also by wracking up a fine 3 - 0 victory.

Sunderland Suffer Quick Deja Vu with City

SAFC Reserves 1 – 3 MCFC Reserves

After making the trek up to the north east through all types of weather conditions to Sunderland’s new reserve venue as their old stomping ground of Durham has an artificial pitch and so premier league rules will not allow reserve games to be played on these surfaces. And so they have found themselves a very nice little ground called Eppleton Colliery Welfare Ground in Hetton-le-Hole. Fortunately the evening turned out to be very pleasant both on the pitch and in terms of the weather and a decent crowd of 1125 turned up to see this entertaining game. A top quality display by Welsh U21 striker Ched Evans with a fine hat-trick ensured that City returned to the North West with all three points to sit second in the table, just like their first team counterparts. Sunderland scored with a fine strike from left winger Billy Dennehy from a short free kick on the right of the area.

Both sides played out a good competitive football match with either side willing to go forwards at all opportunities whilst playing neat football, but it was City’s finishing that told on the result of the game. City showed their intent of the game by winning a corner inside the first 40 seconds of the game, this intent was shown on the twelfth minute when Ched Evans quickly played the ball out wide for Kelvin Etuhu to run to the by-line with and cross to the waiting Evans who took a touch before firing into the bottom corner that goalkeeper Trevor Carson got the faintest of touches to.

Ten minutes later Ched did well to turn and shoot on target, but Carson was able to parry the ball away. Ched only had to wait a minute to double his tally when Ashley Grimes played a good ball through for Ched to run onto and he finished into the far corner.

The second half started with Sunderland showing some real purpose to their play and veteran Graham Kavanagh pulling most of the strings in midfield. So it was relief to see Richard Martin be in top form once again as he pulled of fine saves in the first half and an even better one from one time Irish international Ian Harte fired in a great free kick that Martin did very well to save.

Sunderland deservedly gained a goal back, but it was the circumstances that the goal came as Karl Moore was adjudged to have fouled the Sunderland player when quite clearly it was one of the best timed and cleanest tackles you have seen. The free kick was played short and Dennehy was able to fire in through a rook of players and probably the unsighted Martin.

City had an enforced change with Etuhu tiring up with his older sibling watching on after a good work out to be replaced by the hard working central midfielder, Michael Daly. Within a minute of that change Ched scored his hat-trick goal and City’s third. Again it was Grimes who was the provider as he slipped the ball through and Ched ran on and fired at the near post past Carson.

City now have a week of, but next play Sunderland’s local rivals, Newcastle on Tuesday 2nd October at Mini COMS.


Sunderland: Carson(GK), Weir, Donoghue (Pelter 67), Hartley, Harte, Henderson, Kavanagh (Colback 64), Chandler(Capt), Dowson, Waghorn, Dennehy.

Subs: Luscombe, Cook, Kay


City: Martin(GK), Vidal, Williamson(Capt.), Breen, McDonald, Laird, Etuhu(M Daly 64), Clayton, Evans(D Ball 89), Grimes(Marshall 83), Moore.

Subs: Mentel(GK), Mee.


Att: 1125.

Black Cats Brushed Aside

MCFC U18s 4 - 0 SAFC U18s

Sunderland felt the juggernaut that is Manchester City's academy as City continued to dominate their division by a comprehensive victory over the north east side. Goals from Scott Kay, the returning David Ball, Vladimir Weiss and finally one from Donal McDermott.
City's first goal came from a free kick when Kieron Trippier floated the ball into the box from the left and there was Kay to head it home. The second came when McDermott made a strong run on the left and sent a good cross in for Ball to side foot past the goalkeeper. The third goal was described as a very cheeky effort by Weiss as he did great work on the by-line then from a tight angle chipped the ball into the far corner of the net. City's final goal came from a long ball out of defence which McDermott chased onto to beat the goalkeeper and the ball rolled over the line before the defender could get after McDermott had been flattened by the goalkeeper.
City now travel to Derby who have not had a great start to their season.


City: Mentel(GK), Trippier, Moore, Ramsey, Mee(Capt.), Kay, Weiss, Tsiaklis(Ibrahim), I Daly(Poole), Ball(Cieslewicz), McDermott.

Subs: Robinson, Carter.

The U16s continued their good start to the season with a fine two nil victory.

BLADES BLUNT SHARP CITY

MCFC U18s 1 - 1 SUFC U18s
by Andrew Waldon

The U18’s had Slovakian keeper Filip Mentel to thank for maintaining their exceptional start to the season. Mentel back in goals following a knee injury he sustained in the opening fixture of the new campaign, produced two second half saves, to ensure City benefited from a share of the points against a resilient Sheffield United.

The side started brightly and right back Kieran Trippier was unlucky to see his corner on 19 minutes, hit the top of the bar aided by the hand of The Blades exquisitely named keeper Kang Ho Lee.

One could agree with Bobby Charlton’s comments earlier in the week about the number of foreign players in academy sides. City had their trio of Slovakians aided by a Cypriot and a Somalian. Whilst a quick glance at the team sheet showed Sheffield had a Korean, an Italian and a Frenchman with possibly some other nationalities judging by their names.

Scott Kay gave City the lead on 33 minutes with a sweet low drive from twenty yards, following good work by Ian Daly in the box, who laid it back for Scott and his first time shot nestled in the bottom of the goal.

Sheffield threatened in the second half as City appeared to sit back on their laurels, and their persistence finally paid dividends seven minutes from time, when a Sheffield defender in an attacking position floated the ball over Mentel's head.

Still one point allowed City to maintain their position at the top of their league.

Team: Mentel, Trippier, McGivern, Ramsey, Mee, Kay, Weiss (Morris), Tsiaklis, I Daly (Cunningham), Mak (Redshaw), McDermott
Subs: Clegg (GK), Ibrahim


The U16’s also continued their unbeaten start to the season, but only just. Trailing by two goals at half time they fought back to level things, only to fall behind again. A late penalty however restored parity.


Next Games: Sunderland (H) 12.30 kick off

City Don't do a City against United

MCFC Reserves 3 – 1 MUFC Reserves

Both Manchester United and City decided to field quite strong teams for last night’s mini derby encounter. The first half had little to shout about apart from a great save from Richard Martin to deny Chris Eagles from clear inside the area.
The second half was the key where United took control of the game when they took the lead through Fraizer Campbell but a mad four minutes eight minutes from time gave City three goals from Emile Mpenza, Adam Clayton and Ashley Grimes to see United concede yet another bizarre defeat at Eastlands.

The game was littered with first team fringe players on both sides so there was none of the unfair advantage for either side, although the near £20m purchase, Anderson, did distort the balance of the value of both sides slightly.

As the first half wore on it looked like it could be a dull nil nil draw as both teams seemed to nullify each other’s attacks although United were more free in their shooting, but were restricted mainly to ones from outside the area and using free kicks to their advantage, but City’s defence stood firm and City’s lack of direction up front was not troubling the United defence much.

City started the second half brightly and were keeping possession in the United half until the seventh minute when United broke out from a City corner and the blues failed to get back to cover the right cross from Sam Hewson for Campbell to run in and score.

United by this goal seemed to have taken the wind out of City’s sails for a short while, but once Clayton and the long term injured Kelvin Etuhu had come on to replace the mainly useless Ousmane Dabo and left winger Karl Moore the team had much more impetus, especially as Jihai Sun gave much more energy in the centre of midfield for the other players to feed of.

City’s three goals came in quick succession, Shaleum Logan being involved in the first two goals when on the first he was released on a run and crossed sweetly to the far post where Grimes knocked it back and Mpenza diverted it past Tom Heaton in goal.

Two minutes later Logan headed the ball into the path of Etuhu to cross to the far post where Clayton headed into the bottom corner, very akin to Jon Maken’s goal at Spurs in that amazing cup game, but Adam’s was from the other side of the goal.

City then finished the game of in their favour a minute later when yet again the amazing footwork of Clayton led to him taking the ball to the by-line past numerous challenges and pulling the ball back for Mpenza to run onto and fire it a shot which came back of either the post or player but was returned with interest from Grimes from eight yards out.

This is a good start to City’s premier reserve league side with an away draw with last season’s title winners and a home victory against perennial title contenders Manchester United. The real plus point must be to see Kelvin Etuhu back playing after a long knee injury had kept him out.


City: Martin(GK), Logan, Breen, Ball, Williamson(Capt.), Sun, Laird, Dabo (Clayton 56), Moore (Etuhu 73), Mpenza (Marshall 89), Grimes.

Subs: Hartley(GK), McDonald.


United: Heaton(GK), R.Eckersley, Bardsley, Chester, A.Eckersley(Capt.), Eagles (Dong 81), Hewson, Lee, Martin (Barnes 66), Anderson (Brandy 64), Campbell.

Subs: Woods(GK), Evans.

Att: 789.

Newcastle Out Tooned

NUFC U18s 2 - 3 MCFC U18s

City continued their 100% start to the season with a fine away victory at Newcastle today. All three goals came from two of our Slovakian contingent, with Robbie Mak getting the brace and Vladimir Weiss getting the third.

The U16s started their season off with a one nil victory also today.