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Manchester Evening News

Charlie McNeill responds to Manchester United coaches and Scunthorpe fans in FA Youth Cup win

Man Utd defeated Scunthorpe in the third round of the FA Youth Cup to keep their dreams of an 11th competition victory alive.

Charlie McNeill of Manchester United U18s

Manchester United began their pursuit of the FA Youth Cup in style as they defeated Scunthorpe 4-2 in the third round at Old Trafford on Monday night.


United have won the prestigious youth competition on a record 10 occasions and will quietly be dreaming of another success a decade on from the last time they were triumphant.


Images of Paul Pogba, Jesse Lingard and Ravel Morrison celebrating the most recent victory live long in the memory of United's devoted followers of youth football, and a week after Charlie Savage and Zidane Iqbal became the 245th and 246th academy graduates to reach the first-team, the latest batch of youngsters took to Old Trafford to showcase their own talents.


Charlie McNeill, Isak Hansen-Aarøen and Alejandro Garnacho led the line at youth level last week while many starlets were involved with first-team duties and they carried on where they left off as United got past Scunthorpe on Monday night.

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The Iron, backed on by a sizeable away crowd, started the game on top but were soon on the back foot when Garnacho fired over the bar from inside the box after a nice piece of build-up play.

Five minutes later they wouldn't be so lucky. Hansen-Aarøen fed the ball to Garnacho from deep and his own ambitious through ball was fumbled by opposing 'keeper Owen Foster, leaving the former Atletico Madrid youngster free to cross for Sam Mather who tapped into an unguarded net.

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Travis Binnion ordered the United youngsters to keep up the pressure and soon they'd have a second when the lively attacking trio linked up once again. This time a deep cross from Hansen-Aarøen found McNeill in the United box, he flicked the ball on to Garnacho, who acrobatically volleyed the ball into the top corner in front of the Stretford End.

United fantasies were coming true at the Theatre of Dreams and there should have been a third when McNeill hit the near-post after a clever short corner routine. Two minutes later they would be brought back down to earth.

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A rare Scunthorpe attack resulted in a goal when the ball fell to defender Harry Lewis following a goalmouth scramble, he made no mistake by powering the loose ball beyond the helpless Radek Vitek.


The Iron would have hoped that goal would spark them into life in the second-half but instead it had the opposite effect as United netted two goals in the space of ten minutes to put the tie to bed.

Maxi Oyedele marked a fine individual performance with a great goal from the edge of the box after beating a defender to the ball, celebrating by running off towards the makeshift away end to taunt the fans who had made the long trip from Lincolnshire.

Moments later and United got their fourth when McNeill latched onto a brilliant long ball from Kobbie Mainoo, playing an inadvertent one-two with Mather before tapping into an empty net. This time the United forward ran towards the away end, not getting as close as Oyedele did and receiving a yellow card for shushing the resilient away support.


It wasn't over yet, though, as Scunthorpe netted a fine second goal of the match off a short free-kick routine. The ball was played neatly down the right wing, carving open the United defence before midfielder Josh Robertson fired in a low cross to give his side the faintest hope with 25 minutes let on the clock.

Isak Hansen-Aarøen impressed again for United U18s

Just like it's senior counterpart the FA Youth Cup is made for such unlikely dreams to come true, though it is credit to Binnion and his United side that they managed to quell the fightback and subdue any revitalised threat.


With less then ten minutes left the hardworking McNeill made way for Manni Norkett and was met by chants of 'you're f***ing s**t' from the Scunthorpe supporters, he simply pointed to the scoreboard and carried on walking as he made his way around the pitch.

McNeill has been urged by United coaches to work on his overall game after forging a reputation as a gluttonous goalscorer at youth level and in the last week he has produced two well-rounded performances which prove he is listening. Like with the Scunthorpe supporters he is now doing his talking on the pitch.

With a front three of McNeill, Hansen-Aarøen and Garnacho this young side have the attacking ability to beat any side on their day but as the two sloppy goals conceded showed there is still a lot of work to be done.

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United will travel to face Reading in the fourth round of the competition early next year, those dreams of a trophy will carry on for now.

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