Out on Pens in Lancs Cup

United 1-1 Liverpool (3-4 penalties)
Lancashire Senior Cup; attendance 975
at Moss Lane, Altrincham FC

Off to Altrincham for a Thursday game. It's early, the tram is late, there are 40 waiting on the platform. But we reach Barney's Chippy by 1850h. Kick-off is bang on 1900h, we've got our seats behind the United dugout. Does it get better than a pie and chips watching a game on a mild autumn night? It probably does but not on Thursday in south Manchester.

First half is Liverpool dominating the game but chances are few for both sides. At the break United are a goal down and don't look like scoring. Puzzled as to why the linesman flagged the goal as offside (big cheer) but was over-ruled by the referee (jaw dropping silence).

For the second half we opt to stand on the open terraces. United now look a better side and surely they must get back into the match and progress in this cup. It gets better when Matthew James, Zoran Tosic and Federico Macheda come on as subs. Cracking goal from a direct free kick by Tosic. Whilst everyone was looking for a high ball to head it whistled into a corner of the nets.

Bit of pressure to get a winner but not enough. No extra time so nearly everyone has to stay for kicks from the penalty mark. Didn't win. We leg it back to the tram station, put it all behind us, and look forward to the next match on Saturday.

Highlights : Two chaps from possibly Hong Kong with a banner saying "Hong Kong Reds". What a night out? Lots of kids, half term so no school tomorrow and better still no stupid face-painting, Haribo sweets, jester hats or blowing trumpet tubes for parents to indulge them. What a night out?

Admission free with season ticket, free teamsheet. Tram ticket £2.90 (the adult maxi saver is 30p cheaper than a return - crazy but that's tickets for you), cheese and onion pie and chips £2.50. Weather : mild 15 degrees, dry, very slight breeze.

Teams :
United : Zieler, Brown (Macheda 65), Dudgeon, Evans, Gill, De Laet, Stewart, Hewson (Tosic 58), King, Norwood (James 58), Brandy. - only had 3 named substitutes not 5.

Liverpool: Bouzanis, Darby, Threlfall, Ayala, Mavinga, Irwin, Eccleston, Amoo, Saric (Mendy 81), Palsson (Weijl 65), Kacaniklic. Subs: Hansen, Kohlert, Brouwer.

Reserves fail to score

Liverpool Reserves 1-0 United Reserves
Premier Reserve League on Liverpool TV
This channel is in my Sky package and is free to view so lie back and watch the Reserves in action at Tranmere Rover's ground. A tip of the hat to Liverpool Tv for this service. Even had unbiased commentary.

A couple of points :
a) Think I know why next Thursday's game against City Reserves has been cancelled. It's because some of the players will be playing Wolves in the Carling Cup. Possibly de Laet, Welbeck, Tosic(did he really cost £13 million?) and Macheda.
b) Liverpool were reduced to 10 men for most of the game and defended well. A distinct lack of finishing from United - plenty of shots off target.
c) Nigel Clough taking notes, and Rafa himself in the stands. Spotted by the camera .
d) Reserves football is international. No Brazilians tonight but lads from Serbia, Iceland, Senegal, Belgium, Denmark, Germany, Italy and elsewhere on the pitch.

You can read the match report here at ManUtd or the other version here.

United team : Zieler; Gray, Chester, de Laet, Dudgeon (Gill, 66); Welbeck, C Evans, Eikrem, Tosic (Brady, 77); Macheda, King.

United Reserves retain LSC

In tonight's Lancashire Senior Cup final Manchester United Reserves beat Bolton Wanderers Reserves 1-0. Macheda scored in the 86th minute. I wasn't there but started to look out for the score on the web. Winner for bringing the result first was actually Bolton's website.

An 11th time success for this trophy, second year on the run...

Manchester United: Amos, Chester, Dudgeon, James, Cathcart (Gray), Evans, Stewart, Eikrem, Macheda, Welbeck (Hewson), Tosic (King) (Subs not used: Zieler, Norwood)

United take Senior Cup

The Manchester Senior Cup final was held at the Reebock Stadium. A Monday night with a 1900h kick off. The result was Bolton Wanderers Reserves 0 Manchester United Reserves 1. So, keep the trophy for another year. You can easily spot it with the other silverware if you do the museum tour. It's a good omen for the first team - oh, the superstitions of football.
I was all settled down to watch this on that dodgy streaming web video but after a few minutes the coverage switched to the Bayern Munich game. Drat! Couldn't find coverage anywhere. So much for not paying 6 GBP a month to MUTV.

Zoran Toscic scored the winner after eight minutes.
Team: Amos; Eckersley, C Evans, De Laet, James; Tosic (Stewart, 87), Drinkwater (Eikrem, 87), Possebon, Martin; Welbeck (Gill, 74), Macheda.
Subs not used: Devlin, Dudgeon.

I have a historical interest in this competition as it was the the first trophy won by Newton Heath on a rugby ground in nearby Whalley Range. Only few teams enter now in a mini-league with the top two going to a final.
Related Post : Earlier Senior Cup round also against Bolton 30th October 2008 - here.

Reserves win last game

United Reserves 2-0 Sunderland
Reserve League North at Moss Lane, Altrincham; attendance 462
It's not the last game for the Reserves as they have a two cup finals coming up - Manchester Senior Cup, and the Lancashire FA Senior Cup but it was the last league game and a last visit to Altrincham's ground this season.

The Biffa herself wanted to come along. Tempted by seeing Ole coaching from the touchline, and a trip to Barney's Fish & Chip shop across the road. We sit in the main stand eating our fried delights covered in ketchup and watch the young United side clap the champions Sunderland on to the pitch.

The game is played at the usual racing speed. There are no goals in the first half but United have more chances on goal but it's not exciting. Possebon had to retire from play after only 15 minutes. Second half we walk around to the Sunderland goal to stretch our legs and work off all the chips we've eaten. Very few attacks but one of them results in a penalty and Lee Martin slammed it into the top right corner.

Just as I'm thinking of the tram home or should we stay for the added time there is a great goal by Matt James. One of those turn and shoot it up into nets efforts. We walk a slightly different route to Altrincham metro station down Mayor's Road past the park with swans settling down for the night by the pond. We've been to footie, home for 2135h and the world hasn't noticed.

Game 67 this season; admission and teamsheet free, tram fare £2.90, cheese and onion pie with chips £2.50.

Viva Da Silva

I wonder when we are going to see the Da Silva brothers turn out as defenders for the first team. We've already got a song for them "when they're on the pitch you can't tell which one's which, viva da silva".

Today United Reserves went to Rochdale for a Lancashire FA Senior Cup tie. It was a 1400h kick off and I was busy at work. Not to busy to check the result. The winner in putting the news on the web was the Rochdale AFC site with a report and pictures - link. But the winner of the tie was United 1-4. Fabio got a hat trick today. Not bad for an attacking full back. Alright it's a big step up to the first team squad but maybe it's coming soon. Danny Welbeck got the other goal.

The Reserves won this trophy last season, and now face Preston North End in the semi-final at a date to be arranged.

Ron Robert Zieler, Richard Eckersley, Fabio Da Silva, Corry Evans, Oliver Gill, Rodrigo Possebon, Magnus Eikrem, Antonio Bryan, Federico Macheda, Danny Welbeck, James Derbyshire, Matthew James
Subs Ben Amos (GK), Daniel Drinkwater, Robert Brady, Cameron Stewart

Reserves draw with Liverpool

Liverpool Reserves 2-2 United Reserves
Halliwell Stadium, Warrington RFC attendance 3,955
Live on Liverpool TV (Sky 434)
After last night's gripping game at Old Trafford it was good to stay in and slump on the sofa. A 1930h kick-off for a Reserve team game - if it gets boring I can flick channels to see the Bitters play the Danish pub team. Plenty of future talent out there, lots of players with first team experience. Jay Spearing came on for Liverpool - one night you're playing Real Madrid, two days later you're on an uneven rugby pitch in a fiesty battle of young guns. If he makes it to the Scousers first team you're going to hate him for all the right reasons.

Fabio continues to impress, gets the second goal. Lee Martin is my man of the match. Kuszczak doesn't have a good night, Danny Welbeck has the pace and chips the keeper to equalise but I think he needs to put more weight on, De Laet gets booked again...

The Manchester United website is the winner of reporting the news first but I already knew the result. Match report.

United: Kuszczak; Eckersley, De Laet, C Evans, Fabio (Norwood 66); Martin, Possebon, James, Drinkwater, Brady (Derbyshire 83); Welbeck.
Subs not used: Woods, Gill, Bryan.

Mini Derby Win

Manchester United Reserves played Manchester City Reserves tonight in the Manchester Senior Cup. It was at Ewan Fields, Hyde United's ground. Didn't go, still at work 15 minutes before the 1900h kick off, but wanted to find the result.

Eventually the web produces the outcome...and the winner of bringing the news is the Manchester City web site at around 2200h. United Reserves won 0-1 with a goal by Lee Martin. City's goalkeeper was Joe Hart, who I rate as one of the best, unfortunately he doesn't get a first team game after Shay Given was signed in January...

This puts United in the final against Bolton Wanderers. Usually played at the end of the season.

United: Ron Robert Zieler, Ritchie de Laet, Robert Brady, Corry Evans, Oliver Gill, Matthew James, Rodrigo Possebon, Daniel Drinkwater, Darron Gibson (Joe Dudgeon, 46), Lee Martin, Zoran Tosic (Oliver Norwood, 70).

Unused Subs: Gary Woods, Cameron Stewart, Daniel Galbraith.

The next Reserve fixture is this Thursday 12th, 1930h, away against Liverpool. It's being played in Warrington. I'll be watching on Liverpool Tv, it comes with the Setanta Tv package.

Fabio scores last minute penalty

United Reserves 1-0 Middlesboro Reserves
at Moss Lane, Altrincham FC : attendance est. 300

Fabio Takes a Last Minute Penalty from biffadigital on Vimeo.
Bit of a dull game. Chances were few. I think the Boro keeper only made one save, everything else going over or hitting the bar. Made my way to the exit to get away sharpish when added time was announced. Might as well stay for this bit it can't get any colder. Cameron Stewart was clear on goal and got brought down. Clear penalty shout. Nipped back to behind the goal to watch Fabio take it.

Very cold night and a sparse crowd. Sir Alex was there, and David Gill who probably turned up to see his son Oliver in the No.5 shirt making himself very useful coming up for corners. Reserve team football is very fast, it's young lads with energy to burn and not given time to dwell on the football. If you have the ball for ten seconds you'll be surrounded by three of the opposition.

Had a chippy tea before the match opting for a side order of baked beans on top of my pie and fried potatoes. There was a queue of a dozen waiting to get served at Barney's chippy. It's worth the wait and probably the other punters think the same. Sat in the stands chomping through it all with a tiny plastic fork. It gets into a sloppy mess in the plastic tray but hunger drives it to a finish.

The old boys were here again on the terraces. Notice that a few of them hold watches in their hands keeping track of the time. At non-league grounds there are no scoreboards or clocks so you have to keep it all in your head. Must buy a pocket stopwatch so I can join in with comments like "only two minutes left" or "substitute made in the 76th minute"....I could go one better and have a compass and a thermometer and say "the breeze is blowing south south west and the temperature has dropped to 2 degrees"...

Game 51 this season. Free admission with season ticket, free A4 team sheet printed on both sides. Bus fare £1.40, tram fare £2.90, chips with cheese and onion pie and baked beans £3.00, hot chocolate at half time £1.50.

Went home to the Biffa herself and we managed to quoff a bottle and a half of organic Italian red wine between us.

United : Zieler; De Laet, C Evans, Gill, Fabio; Eikrem (Norwood, 56), James, Possebon, Martin, Tosic; Brady (Stewart, 76). Subs not used: Devlin, Derbyshire, Galbraith.

Reserves beat City 2-1

United Reserves 2-1 Manchester City Reserves
at Moss Lane, Altrincham FC; attendance est. 1,000

Nipped into Barney's Chip Shop across the road from the ground for my 'chippy tea'. A cheese and onion pie plus chips, wrapped to take into the stands. Always loved cheese and onion pies, hot pastry injected with a yellow glue, a fattening and tasty irregular treat.

The game wasn't a thriller, very evenly matched with few chances on goal. Anderson is getting a run out after injury, so is Etuhu for City. They both do the first half only, it's just a stroll in the park for them. Ten minutes before half time I left the main stand to beat the rush to the tea hut. Whilst stood in the line saw the first goal from James. A storming long range effort out of the blue. Still waiting to get served when Macheda slots in the second. Good job the tea hut is at this end of the ground.

Drinking my hot chocolate on the terraces when City get a penalty in the added time before the break. It's 2-1, maybe the match will liven up.

Second half went behind the City goal to see if anymore goals would be scored. Just a few wides and wild shots on the roof. Only been to a few Reserve games but getting to recognise the same faces. The group of old boys who've seen every game in the last forty years and discuss names from the past. The young girls who know the players. A collection of oddballs, gobshites and loners. I suppose I'm in that last category.

It has rained throughout the 90 minutes but it ceases for my walk back to the tram station - what good fortune. Suppose I'll be back next week to see the Middlesborough match - what else is there on a Thursday night?

Game 49 this season. Admission free with season ticket, free team sheet. Tram fare £2.90, bus fare £1.40, hot chocolate £1.50, chips with cheese and onion pie £2.50.

United: Amos; Fabio (Derbyshire 62), C Evans, De Laet, Eckersley; Martin, Drinkwater (Brady 80), James, Anderson (Norwood 46), Tosic; Macheda.
Subs not used: Devlin, Bryan.

United Reserves v. Liverpool Reserves

United Reserves 0-0 Liverpool Reserves
Barclays Premier Reserve League; attendance estimate 2,000
Off to Moss Lane, Altrincham on a bitterly cold night. Quite a few police about - three at the tram station, about a dozen in the ground. It's only a Reserve match, and no Scouse fans about.

A lively passing game by two well matched sides. But very few clear attempts on goal. Tosic got a start in a No.11 shirt and got stuck in. Got a yellow card.

Went to the singing end behind the Liverpool goal. You don't realise how many Scouse songs there are in the songbook, a few of them reprised from the archives. It's been a long time since the days of Shankley and Dalglish but they got a mention. A strong anti-Glasier contingent along with banners. At half time we all trooped round to the other end of the ground. Good to see Ole Gunner is still remembered with affection. "Ole, Ole give us a wave". He did. Followed by a series of Ole songs.

Game 43 this season; admission free with season ticket, free team sheet, cheese and onion from Barney's Fish & Chip outside the ground for £1.20, hot chocolate in the ground £1.20, tram ticket £2.90, bus fare £1.20.

Pity there were no goals, and no connecting bus back - it's quicker to walk home from Stretford than wait 20 minutes.

United: Kuszczak; James, Evans C, Chester, de Laet; Martin (Bryan 69), Possebon, Drinkwater; Brandy (Derbyshire 69), Macheda, Tosic (Petrucci 46).
Subs not used: Amos, Eikrem. Booked: Tosic, Martin, Drinkwater.

Liverpool: Gulacsi, Degan (Mendy 46), Kelly, Spearing, Darby; El Zhar, Plessis, Pacheco, Bruna (Weijl 61); Ngog, Simon (Palsson 72).
Subs not used: Bouzanis, Antwi. Booked: Plessis, Ngog.

Stanley in the Lancs Cup

United Reserves 3-0 Accrington Stanley Reserves
Lancashire FA Canterbury Cup 1st Round attendance: about 80

Reserves At The Cliff from biffadigital on Vimeo.
It rained throughout the night so I was prepared for a waterlogged pitch and a disappointing afternoon off work. But the websites didn't mention any cancellations so off on the 86 bus to town and the 98 out to The Cliff. Situated amongst Victorian villas, some run-down, others restored, cobbled streets and old lamps. You get the picture lots of architectural heritage. The ground isn't though. No turnstiles you walk straight into a car park behind which is a modern structure from a retail park.

Found the lady handing out the teamsheets. Apparently people try and get more than one and sell them. It's an A4 heavy weight paper with some United logos on. Mine got a bit crumpled so I don't think it'll be making to an auction site.

The pitch is well below road level and surrounded by steep grass and moss embankments. I've got my eye on going to the old stand when I've finished my cup of tea. £1.50 from a mobile wagon - an expensive teabag on a stick floating in hot water.

The teams were still doing training excercises on the pitch. I went to check out the fast flowing River Irwell behind the stand. The Stanley website has this down as a first team fixture, but it looked like a young Reserve side out there.

Come the 2pm the game started. United had to change ends and kick into the winter sunshine. Not that it bothered them they were soon on top. The new signing from Stoke City, Ritichie De Laet was at No.5. I stood with a group of die-hard reds who follow the Reserves, even away fixtures so there was a running commentary of who was who and how they's been progressing. Which is what this level of football is all about, a stepping stone to a first team squad.

Didn't have to wait long for the first goal. Macheda slots it home after about 5 minutes. Brandy scored a second, bit of a soft goal rolling under their keeper. The third goal came in the second half with Petrucci having a direct free kick 25 yards out. Top left corner, keeper no chance.

A game played in good spirits with no malace, cheating or ugly incidents. Even managed to do some text updates to Twitter and friends - that was the live blogging element.

Game 40 this season; admission free; bus ticket £4.30 (day saver); tea £1.50; free team sheet no programme

Sorry state at Northwich

Up until the end of October 2008 United's Reserve team used to play at the Marston Arena home of Northwich Victoria. Then financial troubles of unpaid electricity bills, loans and taxes by the owner of the stadium made United seek a more reliable venue on the National Grid. A silver lining for reds fans in Manchester, like myself, we can travel to Altrincham on a Thursday night if there is a game on. A black day for Northwich Vics team and fans. Now they are locked out of the ground, the generator has gone, and the fittings are being removed. This weekend's fixture has been switched to Altrincham's Moss Lane ground.

Next week I'm hoping to get to The Cliff in Lower Broughton, Salford to watch the Reserves play against Accrington Stanley. This is the rescheduled Lancashire FA Cup tie postponed from last year by an unplayable pitch. Why it's at the old United training ground and a 1400h kick off I don't know? Maybe they want the young players to have an early night. As I've never been to The Cliff before I'm quite looking forward to it. A chance to inspect the place where all the United greats used to train (it has a covered grandstand I believe), and maybe some of the new young European signings will get a game. Also another pathetic attempt at "live blogging" just for hell of it - a peri-match diversion to add to experience in marketing speak.

United Reserves v. Accrington Stanley Reserves

United Reserves - Accrington Stanley Reserves
Lancashire FA Canterbury Senior Cup
Following the pitch inspection at 11:00 am, the referee has called tonight's game off due to the frozen pitch at Altrincham. Oh well, no live blogging, no cold night on the terraces

Battle at Celtic

Celtic 1-1 United
UEFA Champions League; attendance 58,903
A goal down after 13 minutes, don't think that was in the script. It reminded me of Hull's first goal the previous Saturday. The keeper, this time Ben Foster, is too far out as the defence is caught off guard. A deft lob over his head into the net. Again on the left side of play.

After that it was a massive defending job by Celtic, and though the commentator kept saying surely the equaliser is imminent it wasn't. It's hard to work a ball through 11 men defending deep. Celtic had an interesting strategy defending from corners. None of that man marking you get in Premiership games. A person on the back post, four or five on the six yard line, and the rest of the team scattered in front of them. It worked. Great headed goal by Giggs from a rebound, unfortunate miss by Berbatov in the last kick of the game.

As the other game between Aarlborg and Villarreal ended in a draw the table remains the same. I think United are through 'cos Celtic & Aarlborg can only get 8 points maximum now. A win away at Villarreal, is it too much to ask for? Top of the group?

Earlier in the day Celtic Reserves drew 0-0 with United Reserves at Airdrie. Couldn't find the result until the next day, and the first to publish was The Daily Record. Even in the age of t'internet obscure cup and friendly results don't show up well after the event. Celtic TV are showing thirty minute highlights. See Setanta TV Listing if you're interested.

Reserves lost 8-9 in penalty shoot out

United Reserves 0-0 Bolton Wanderers Reserves
Manchester Senior Cup : attendance about 300
Moss Lane, Altrincham

Penalty Shoot Out from biffadigital on Vimeo.
As we were leaving Old Trafford on Wednesday after the West Ham match they announced that this fixture had been moved to Altrincham. An opportunity of going to my 49th match this year or staying in watching Tv. So I find myself on a tram full of people still coming home from work, heading up to Moss Lane, home of Altrincham FC for a 1900h kick off.

This is the full reserve side, not Academy players. It's easy to spot Manucho up front, Possibon with his big haircut being a midfield dynamo, and Ben Amos is keeping goal in a yellow top. Fast game, passing ball to feet not the high ball hoofing when I last came to this ground to watch Conference football.

Bolton are a very organised side and play in a similar style and chances to score are few. Lots of speculative outside the area shots, mostly off target. Result 0-0.

Goes to a penalty shoot, all outfield players have to take a shot. I've never seen a penalty shoot before only ones on Tv. Take up position behind the goal. The joys are being able to walk around a ground and get different views makes up for the low crowd atmosphere. Lost 8-9, oops. Still in the cup 'cos it's a group stage competition.

First to report the match & the score when I eventually got home was the Bolton Evening News.

Game 49; admission free with a season ticket, free teamsheet. Tram fare £3.00, bus far £1.40, cup of tea £1.

Reserves

"Ole Gunnar Solskjaer insists his Reserves play the kind of football that deserves to be seen by a wider audience."

Having watched the Reserves play at Bury the other week, I can only agree. The quality of football is excellent - a fast passing game. However they play in Northwich, about 26 miles from Old Trafford. The stadium looks good in the photos and Northwich Victoria need the revenue. But it must be half an hour by car, or the train journey to Lostock Grahlam is 50 minutes from Manchester, plus a walk. All for a weekday night with a 1900h kick-off. Previously they used to play at Bury, then Altrincham and then Hyde. They used to get crowds of a few thousand now it's apparently 200-300.

I'm going to try and get to see another Reserves game this year but it'll be an away tie. Possibly the match against Manchester City in October. At least it will actually be in Manchester at the athletic stadium next to City's ground.
OGS Rallies Fans for the Reserves at ManUnitedYouth.Com

Reserves overcome Bury

Bury Reserves 0-2 United Reserves
Manchester Senior Cup 2008/9: attendance est.150

It turned out to be a very wet trip to Gigg Lane to watch the reserves in action. By the time I got there I was soaked. Got another soaking on the way home. The players got wet too, and Ole Solskjaer the manager was in a good waterproof outfit. I was sat a few rows behind him during the second half, listening to the encouragement he was shouting across to the players. A bit different from the usual get in position rants from many coaches. The team played well in the United style. Keep the ball, pass even if you have to pass backwards, work the play across the pitch. The first goal came after about 15 minutes from a direct free kick by Magnus Eikrem. The other one was in the second half with Tom Cleverley smacking it into the net with the Bury defence caught out of position. There are no annoucements at these games, so your not always sure who's scored or how long injury time will be.

Other interesting note - Fabio DaSilva, well it looked like him, came and stood behind me near the end of the game, chatting away in very fast Brazilian dialect.

Game 35: Admission £3, tram fare £2.70, bus fares £2.80, cup of tea 1.60, confectionary £1.09, no programme available but a free teamsheet.

Manchester United: Ben Foster, Rafael Da Silva, Richard Eckersley, David Gray, James Chester, Cameron Stewart, Magnus Eikrem, Sam Hewson, Danny Welbeck, James Derbyshire, Tom Cleverley.
Subs: Reece Brown, Ben Amos, Christpher Curran, Evandro Brandao, Antonio Bryan

Reserves win Lancashire Cup

Liverpool Reserves 2-3 Manchester United Reserves
Lancashire Senior Cup Final, at Leyland, Lancashire Att: 606

Well another trophy for 2008, and the new manager Ole Gunner must be pleased with the result though it was Brian McClair who got them to the final. Not on Tv, didn't expect it on the radio and not there either. What I usually do is to see who can bring the result the quickest. This merely involves refreshing various websites in various tabs - oh the joys of Firefox browser. The clear winner was the Liverpool FC website soon after the game finished - here with CUP FINAL HEARTACHE FOR RESERVES by Paul Hassall. So top marks to them.

One day a new gadget vidiprinter will arrive. It spews out endless sports results. If you spot one for sale I'd buy it. For the record these were the teams. Look back in two years time to see who made it to the big time Premiership.


Liverpool Reserves: Bouzanis, Scott, Irwin, San Jose, Huth, Kelly, Lindfield, Eccleston (Amoo 83), Brouwer, Simon, Bruna (Kacaniklic 70). Unused subs: Hansen, Metcalf, Pepper.

Manchester United: Zieler, Gray, R. Eckersley, Cathcart, Chester, Simpson, Possebon (Drinkwater 46), Gibson, Campbell, Cleverley, Hewson (Evans 88). Unused subs: Derbyshire, Amos, Eikrem.

Crowd trouble at Ressies friendly

Today I discovered that the friendly between Altrincham and Manchester United reserves was abandoned in the 86th minute. Pitch invasion, smoke bombs, no arrests, police involved. It made the local BBC Tv news tonight which blamed United fans. The Altrincham FC website says it was a small section of visiting supporters. Reads like drink was involved - causing trouble at a Reserves game not something to brag about.

"unsavoury scenes that ultimately led to the abandonment of the game." - Altrincham FC
Scroll down for Club Statement 20 July 2008.

"A sad end to what should have been an enjoyable afternoon"- United Reserves website.
- which is a good source of news & reports. United were winning 0-3 with the goals from Federico Macheda (2) and Rodrigo Possebon

I was hoping to get to the FC United of Manchester friendly there this Tuesday - if the game is still on that is.

Reserves win Manchester Cup

I was planning to go to tonight's Manchester Senior Cup final tonight at Old Trafford. But got home late, and it wouldn't have gone down too well with the Biffa herself who is off to that Londonshire tomorrow....oh well, it was only a fiver admission but it would have been full of kids smacked up on Haribo sweets.

Anyway it was United 2-0 Bolton Wanderers. Top marks to the official Man Utd site for getting the result published before 2200h. I usually make a note of the team playing - just in case anyone makes it to the first team.

Zieler; Gray, Chester, Eckersley, Cleverley; Barnes, Hewson, Possebon, S Evans; Welbeck, Eagles.
Subs not used: Amos, Fagan, Macheda, James, Drinkwater.
Goals from Danny Welbeck (79), and Rodrigo Possebon (90)

Trivia notes : won this trophy 28 times; when they won it in 1999 the first team won on the treble but back then Teddy Sheringham played in one of the early ties; the cup is quite small by modern standards and is usually on display in the museum.

The Reds other Cup Finals

I usually check out the Reserves section at the official Manchester United web site. It's habit. They've had a pretty good season and have now reached two cup finals. The Manchester Senior Cup (the first trophy won by Newton Heath in 1888, and beaten finalists by City in 2007) and the Lancashire Senior Cup which they last won back in 1969.

Not so sure of the value of Reserve team football anymore, but it keeps Brian McClair in a job. The best players step up into the squad system, others are loaned out to other clubs to obtain more competitive matches. Also the matches are played at Northwich Victoria with a 1900h kick off - not exactly Manchester.

There is Reserves match coming up against a United States u-2o's side. It's on Thursday afternoon at the Carrington training ground. I emailed United to see if it was possible to attend. Lot of holidays to use up before June, so why not waste it at footie match not far from home. So far I've not had a reply. Do you think I'll get one? Do you think they care?

Previous entries :
Lancashire Senior Cup
Manchester Senior Cup

Reserves Play at Northwich

Reserve team football might serve a purpose but it's hard to see what it is these days. The better prospects usually get loaned out to get first team football elsewhere. Gone are the days of playing on a Saturday afternoon. A 10 team league of mid-week evening games - k.o. at 1900h - don't want the young lads out too late.

Manchester United Reserves are to play their home games at the modern Victoria Stadium, home of Northwich Victoria - it's about 25 miles from Old Trafford. Previous seasons have been at Bury, Altrincham, and last year at Hyde United. Fixture list - but this will change like the weather. One day I'll go to Northwich, plus the other very old salt towns Middlewich and Nantwich in Cheshire - but not for an evening match.