City Win The Battle of the Manchester Nerves

MCFC Youth 1 - 0 MUFC Youth

A lacklustre display from both teams lead to a lot of very nervous players as neither team strived to take on their opponents with confident runs; but a half cleared corner led to Kelvin Etuhu being able to turn sharply in the box and fire hard and low, five minutes from time to win the quarter final derby tie and send City into the semis; the first time in four season where we were humbled home and away by a hard working Middlesbrough side.

City will have to perform far better than tonight if they are to go that step further to the Sky televised double leg final. I think the main difference between the two sides were the goalkeepers at set pieces. Lawrence Matthewson was commanding and grabbed the ball at all opportunities, where as United's German goalkeeper, Ron Zieler always looked tentative. And so it was from a City set piece that was united's undoing because I think we would still be watching while I was drawing my pension before City scored in open play.

In so much contrast to City last Wednesday against Liverpool; Marshall and Johnson were dominant in the midfield, they seemed to be hiding in their shells this evening as large gaps appeared between our forward line and the midfield.

I'd like to positive about the game, but I'm afraid the only positive aspect was the result and I'm sure all the coaching staff will have a similar view. Yet again though we saw an abject display from the so called superstar Daniel Sturridge who limped of the field after injuring himself doing a dying swan impression. His replacement, Ched Evans brought much more urgency to City's play but still only managed to produce two more shots at goal.

City's goal came from a corner, now unusually Paul Marshall take the corners, but Moore was designate corner taker, and perhaps that added height of Marshall in and around the box made United less composed as they architected their own downfall as they failed to clear Moore's average cross field ball and Ched Evans was able to stab a neat short pass to Kelvin for him to spin sharply and fire the ball home and send the near 6,000 City faithful home happy in their ability to brag all day long to their long suffering Manchester United colleagues.

City will now hope to meet Brighton as they have done remarkably well to get this far with being a club that does not hold full academy status like all three of the other semi-finalists.


City: Matthewson(GK), Obeng, Logan, Williamson, Breen, Marshall, Williams, Johnson(Capt.), Etuhu, Sturridge(C Evans 66), Moore.

Subs: Vadon(GK), S Evans, McDonald, Mouritsen.


United: Zieler(GK), Gray, Lee, Cathcart, Shawcross, Rose, Mullan, Gibson(Capt.), Campbell, Hewson(Brandy 73), Evans.

Subs: Lea, Amos Burns, Chester.

Att: 6,492.

MotM: Matthewson - made a couple of top quality saves, and commanded his area well.