Manchester United continued their 100 per cent start to the Premier League 2 season as our Under-21s came up short in a battle between two high-flying sides the north west on Saturday lunchtime.
Without a handful of regular players, Wayne Burnett saw his side put to the sword by Gabe Biancheri’s hat-trick, which the striker completed in stoppage time, with Diego Leon also on target for the hosts at Leigh Sports Village.
Callum Olusesi had pulled one back for us to make it 2-1 towards the end of the first period and we pushed for a leveller after the restart, but United maintained the upper hand and after centre-half Malachi Hardy picked up two yellow cards within minutes of each other, we were reduced to 10 men in stoppage time before Biancheri finished off his treble to make for an unflattering 4-1 final scoreline.
Both sides had enjoyed strong starts to the campaign and began the day in second and third respectively, but United were deserved winners on the day as they leapfrogged Ipswich Town back into top spot.
More to follow...
Goals: Manchester United – Biancheri 16, 37, 90+6, Leon 60; Spurs – Olusesi – 41.
Yellow cards: Manchester United – Lacey 20, Devaney 30, Fitzgerald 90+1; Spurs – Kyerematen 22, Hardy 89, 90+4.
Red card: Spurs – Hardy 90+4.
Referee: James Bancroft.
Venue: Leigh Sports Village, Leigh.
Weather: Sunny, light rain showers, nine degrees.
Attendance: 466.