A late penalty from Ian Harte sealed a second successive win against a Manchester team, albeit against United in the FA Premier Reserve League. The match was only made eventful by the referee’s personal attempt at a ‘soft yellow card’ world record. Whether the ref’s display was anything to do with the match being covered live by MUFC TV, I’ll leave to your imagination but my money’s on him asking his mam to record it on their betamax so he could watch it when he got home, assuming he would be allowed to stay up that late.

The Red Devils brought a talented young squad, supplemented by the experience of Kuszczak, Neville, Pique, Eagles and former Black Cat loanee Danny Simpson, who played at left full back rather than the right back role we were used to seeing him at last season.

The Lads also put out a strong team consisting generally of those players either not in the successful youth team but those not likely to get a first team game and of course our very own road runner, Carlos Edwards, who because of United’s formation saw himself up against his mate Danny Simpson.

Roy O’Donovan led the line and others from midfield were expected to get forward and support, sound familiar? Whilst Stephen Wright became the 239th player to wear the armband for the ressies this season, well almost.

It took until the 18 th minute before either side got anywhere near the goal and Ian Harte managed a timely interception just as it looked like United youngster Sean Evans was likely to get through on goal. Mid-way through the half Chris Eagles managed to lose Harte, just as the crowd were starting to, and his cross (as I’m sure that’s what it was) bounced off the top of the bar with Fulop looking particularly unworried by it.

The first sniff we got of United’s goal was when Roy O’Donovan ran down Gerard Pique and the Spaniard’s mistake allowed Roy through on goal, and although the Irishman failed to outmuscle the covering defender he managed to poke the ball goalwards but found Kuszczak (looking and sounding like Arnold Schwarzeneger) equal to it.

Just after the half hour mark, Gary Neville was booked for a nothing foul on Dennehy and suffice to say that it was the highlight of the match up to that point, utterly undeserved but at least it gave us on the touchline a bit of a laugh. Minutes later, United youngster, Daniel Welbeck turned on a sixpence and shrugged off McShane with surprising ease for such a slightly built player but put his shot way over having done the hard part.

Three minutes before the break, we caught United on the hop as a through ball was played towards both Edwards and O’Donovan. James Chester scythed down O’Donovan but play was allowed to continue as Carlos ran through on goal. He turned his marker inside out and struck a good shot at goal but Arnie/Kuszczak made an excellent save. Chester was yellow carded once play paused but how his cynical foul and Neville’s foul minutes earlier equate, is anyone’s guess.

HT 0/0

Three minutes after the break, O’Donovan had the ball in the back of the net but it was one of those where he was flagged offside the moment he received the ball and knew before he shot that the whistle had been blown. The only reason it was noteworthy was the fact that the referee didn’t book him for effectively kicking the ball away, although with a touch like O’Donovan’s the ref may have been unsure whether he was shooting or if he meant to return the ball to the nearest United player.

Wrighty then made a poor challenge, arriving later than Liam Miller for training, and received one of the few deserved yellows of the night. Having seen precious little of note all night we were nearly treated to a collector’s item when Gary Neville burst into the box, shot on target but saw Fulop make a good save. It must have caused Neville a nosebleed as he was substituted soon after.

Chris Eagles then had the ball in the back of the night but was flagged offside but you have to say it looked a tight decision. On 84 minutes M’Voto picked up a yellow card for, well who knows, answers on a postcard please. A minute later Liam Miller’s superb ball out wide to Chandler saw the youngster cut in and shoot. Arnie made a good save but the ball bounced out to Jordan Cook who headed at goal and it looked destined for the net before United substitute David Gray palmed it over the bar, fairly magnificently you have to say. Out came the red card and off went Gray who had been on the pitch for all of 12 minutes. Hartey sent Arnie the wrong way for the only goal of the game.

The final whistle went to our collective relief and that allowed the autograph hunters (not all of them from our first team squad) the chance to get a signature from some of their United heroes.

Highlight of The Match? Was it Neville getting booked presumably for possession of an offensive face or was it being charged a reasonable price for food after being robbed both on and off the pitch the previous night at the City of Manchester Stadium? It’s a close call.

Full Time: Sunderland Reserves 1-0 Manchester United Reserves

Sunderland: Fulop, Wright, Harte, Weir, M’Voto, McShane, Edwards (J Richardson), Chandler, O’Donovan (Cook), Miller, Dehenney

Subs Unused: Carson, Pelter, Brown

Man of the Match: M’Voto, dealt calmly with everything put his way.

Attendance: An impressive 1032

Dov