Manchester United U18s recorded their third consecutive victory in the U18 Premier League North on Saturday, winning 2-0 at Newcastle United.
United lost by the same scoreline in the corresponding fixture last season. Darren Fletcher’s side have now won all four games across all competitions.
Fletcher made two changes to the side that started the 5-0 thrashing of Middlesbrough. Connor Laurie replaced Rafe McCormack, while Emmanuel Ziro came in for Nathaniel-Junior Brown.
The game got off to a positive start, with both teams showing attacking intent, but neither side created a genuine threat.
George Mair in the Newcastle goal was the busier of the two goalkeepers. He kept out Jay McEvoy and Jaume Camacho’s efforts from long distance before saving the latter’s close-range header.
Camacho set up the opening goal, with Edson DeJonge-Seiros picking out the bottom corner from his one-time pass.
Newcastle recorded the first two attempts of the second half. Luke Gilligan’s effort sailed over the crossbar, before Charlie Hardy made his first save, keeping out Alfie Seldon’s low shot.
United then began to enjoy possession but failed to create any real openings, forcing Fletcher to bring on Jacey Carrick and Noah Ajayi.
Ajayi nearly made an immediate impact when he drove forward, cut inside and drilled a low effort towards goal, but his shot was saved by Mair.
Camacho and Shah both dragged their attempts wide, while Ajayi forced Mair into another save as the young Reds pushed to seal the victory.
Ajayi eventually wrapped up the victory in the final minute of normal time, slaloming through the hosts’ defence before chipping the ball over the goalkeeper and into the bottom corner.
Fletcher’s side will be looking to extend their winning streak when they host Wolverhampton Wanderers at Carrington next Saturday.