Forthcoming Fixtures

MANCHESTER SENIOR CUP

Thursday 22nd April 2010

Manchester United 0 Manchester City 2

Mak 78 mins

Tutte 80 mins

City knew that only a victory against Manchester United would secure a place in the Senior Cup Final and stop United from winning a reserve treble of the league and the two Senior cup competitions that they participate in. That treble was resoundingly halted with a great display by City with two second half goals inside three minutes by Robbie Mak and Andrew Tutte.

City started the game brightly as Alex Nimely Tchuimeni wriggled through the United defence and fired a fine strike into the top corner of the goal that the likely to be disappointed England goalkeeper Ben Foster pulled off a fine save with both hands. Nimely had a chance again after a quarter of an hour when a miss-hit clearance fell for him; but this time he shot just wide.

United's first real chance fell in the twenty second minute when Scott Wootton surged forward and played a very good ball across the area; but there were no United players there to connect with the ball. City immediately had the play up the other end as a good cross field pass to David Ball and he ran at the defence and shot that again forced a good save from Foster.

City again created another good chance with just less than twenty minutes of the half left when a ball came back in from a corner and it fell to Nimley who did a fine over head kick back into the danger area and Dedryck Boyata could not quite keep his header down as it sailed over the crossbar.

City continued to press for that opening as Tutte forced his way to the by-line and pulled the ball back; but Ball could not keep his volley down as it rose over the crossbar. Fortunately for City the referee had a good game and appeared to be very fair as Fabian Brandy went down rather theatrically in the forty fifth minute and Mr Roberts spread his arms to waive away the frivolous appeal.

City could have had a late first goal of their own when a Scott Kay free kick was put into the United area with pace and Abdisiliam Ibrahim headed the ball straight at Foster.

After a great first half but no rewards it was in the first minute of the second half saw United nearly take the lead when captain Javan Vidal was too casual and he slips to allow Brandy to run in; but fortunately for City his shot was wide.

City got their act together and a great run by Mak from virtually half the length of the field into the area was only thwarted by a great timed tackle by Ritchie de Laet who was also outstanding for United in the league game before he was injured. It was Boyata's chance a few minutes later to open City's account when he volleyed over a Mak corner.

City then had yet another chance when the referee played advantage for Ball to carry on the move after Nimely was brought down but Ball's shot after running into the area was saved and it came back out to Nimley but the defence were able to close Alex down.

With just over ten minutes remaining City finally got the goal they deserved when Nimely was his usual strong self as he held the ball up before turning and slipping a well timed ball for Mak to run onto and he dummied the shot to negate Foster and round him and fire the ball into an empty goal.

City then sealed the result within three minute's of their previous goal when Tutte held of a couple of United players before a bit of space opened up for him and he fired a great twenty five yard strike into the bottom corner of the goal.

They did not rest on their laurels as they went for the jugular with another forward run by Mak who jinked his way into the area and fired into the near post to force Foster into another fine save and win a man of the match display for them.

As it stands we do not have a date for the final; but surely a very good one would be either Bank holiday Monday or Sat 8th May as there is no clash of games and both days would mean a very good crowd could attend.

Teams:

Manchester United

Foster, Wootton, Dudgeon, C Evans,De Laet, Gill, Stewart (Pogba 75), Possebon, Macheda (W Keane 58), Norwood, Brandy(R Brown 80)

Subs: Devlin(GK), Hussain

Manchester City

Karius, Vidal, Cunningham, Kay, Boyata, Wabara, Ball (Chantler 87), Tutte, Nimely (Benali 90), Ibrahim, Mak 

Subs:

Wood(GK), Veseli, Olle

Attendance: 864

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