Manchester Senior Cup
Ewen Fields, 8 March 2010
STOCKPORT COUNTY 0
MANCHESTER UNITED 1
W. Keane 74°
Manchester United: Zieler; Moffatt (Eikrem 78°), Cathcart, Wootton, Gill; Stewart, Possebon, C. Evans, Norwood, Ajose (W. Keane 60°); Brandy (Cole 87°).
Will Keane hammered home his first goal for United's Reserves to give the Reds a narrow Manchester Senior Cup victory at Stockport County.
The cup holders took three scarcely-deserved group stage points after the substitute lashed in a stunning 20-yard finish 16 minutes from time at Ewen Fields. The strike masked a below-par United display, lacking the fluid, accurate passing and solid defending which has been a hallmark of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Warren Joyce's management.
Although Nick Ajose flashed an early shot past the County upright, the hosts made by far the clearer and more numerous first-half chances. Ron-Robert Zieler produced a stunning reaction save to prevent Oliver Gill's errant clearance from giving County the lead, while ex-Red David Poole curled just past the top corner from the edge of the area.
Sam Hare was just off-target from distance, but John Disney spurned the clearest opening in the 44th minute, Poole's cross evaded three defenders but was skewed wide with the goal gaping. The steely-faced manner with which Solskjaer and Joyce stalked to the dressing room at half-time intimated United's off-colour display. It was of no surprise to see far more resolve after the break, with less defensive generosity on show.
At the other end, goalkeeper Lloyd Rigby wasn't called into meaningful action until the 69th minute, when he clutched Scott Moffatt's ambitious drive, but United were galvanised by the introduction of substitute Keane. The youngster, so prolific for Paul McGuinness' Under-18s, broke the deadlock on 74 minutes when he was found by Oliver Norwood, 30 yards from goal. The 17-year-old striker advanced, shimmied away from his marker and fired an unstoppable drive past Rigby.
Despite bossing possession in the latter stages, United were unable to find a killer second goal. Magnus Eikrem, back from injury, came on to deftly glance Norwood's free-kick past the post in injury time, but his fellow substitute was left to take the plaudits for his stunning maiden strike.
Indice 
