U18s: United 7 West Brom 0United's U18s produced their best performance of the season, smashing seven past West Bromwich Albion at Carrington on Saturday, four of them from in-form forward Danny Welbeck.
After a slow start to the campaign, the RedsÂ’ U18s have made steady progress since, and this victory is reward for some promising performances in recent weeks.
Welbeck got the rout underway after just eight minutes, sliding in to divert Magnus Eikrem's pass goalwards from six yards. Ten minutes later, the same combination made it two as Welbeck ran onto the Norwegian's quickly taken free-kick to cheekily lob Alsop in the visiting goal.
The Manchester-born forward didn't have to wait long to claim his hat-trick. With just thirty minutes on the watch, Danny DrinkwaterÂ’s incisive through-ball put Welbeck in. The 16-year-old rounded Alsop and stroked the ball into the empty net.
United were solid at the back, creative in the middle and clinical up-front, and the Reds made it four moments before the break. Welbeck was central to the move again, flicking a pass through to Italian striker Federico Macheda, who calmly slotted the ball home.
And the Reds were not finished there. After the break, Welbeck picked up were he had left off in the first half, adding his fourth and United's fifth after 53 minutes. After a one-two with Macheda, Welbeck bamboozled the visiting defence before caressing the ball right-footed into the bottom corner.
Contine herePremier Academy League
Carrington, Sat 20 October
MANCHESTER UNITED 7
Welbeck (8, 20, 31, 53), Macheda (45), Ajose (65, 71)
WEST BROM 0
