mcfc
Jan 28 2003, 09:47 PM
On a cold, wet and blustery night, The reserves biggest crowd of the season witnessed as, City yet again this season out gun their closest rivals this time by a 3-0 score line.
The Blues opened this Manchester Senior cup tie brightly and David May making his return from injury in the heart of the United defence had to be alert to cut out a Chris Shuker cross from the right as Shaun Wright Phillips was about to apply the final touch.
City’s persistent attacking aided by the swirling wind finally paid off on twenty-one minutes. A succession of corners provided the opening goal of the night. Shuker’s first in swinging corner was headed off the line by Neil Wood for another corner.
This time Mikkel Bischoff helped the corner on and his flicked header landed at the feet of Glenn Whelan in a crowded area and he nonchalantly back heeled into the net virtually stood on the line
Roy Carroll then denied City a second goal when he kept out a curling shot from Shuker and the story continued as both Joey Barton and Wright-Phillips saw chances narrowly miss the target.
United’s best chance arrived on the stroke of half time when they were awarded a free kick after Jeff Whitley fouled Luke Chadwick on the edge of the box but that came to no avail but in the move Nick Weaver appeared to injure himself as he slipped on the greasy surface when covering the attempt on goal.
Weaver did not appear for the second half and was replaced by Kevin Ellegaard. Within three minutes of the restart City doubled their advantage, Whelan’s pass out to the left allowed Wright-Phillips to carry the ball on and he fired past an advancing Carroll.
Minutes later United were reduced to ten men. It appeared at first that Danny Pugh should have taken an early bath after hacking Wright-Phillips down for what should have been a second bookable offence but the referee realising he had already booked the United defender allowed City to advance towards the penalty area were Michael Stewart fouled Barton.
A melee ensued amongst the players over the challenge and Stewart was sent off having already been booked in the first half. What made the decision even stranger was that United were awarded the free kick for the offence.
With a man advantage City squandered a number of chances, Lucien Mettomo should have done better with a free header from a corner. Paul Ritchie saw his drive from distance tipped over in some style by Carroll.
The third and final goal finally arrived on seventy-five minutes when substitute Stephen Elliott ran on to a pass from Jeff Whitley and placed his shot to the left of Carroll.
In the dying minutes of the game the crowd (well at least the female half) were warmed up by a streaker who gave an impromptu display but this still did not take away the fact that City produced a very competent display and kept alive their hopes of reaching the final stages of the competition,
Team: Weaver( Ellegaard 46), Flood, Jordan, Mettomo, Bischoff, Ritchie, Barton. Whitley, Whelan, Wright-Phillips(Elliott 54), Shuker
Subs: McDowall, Onuoha, Orr
Attendance: 3288
:clap :clap :clap :clap
The Blues opened this Manchester Senior cup tie brightly and David May making his return from injury in the heart of the United defence had to be alert to cut out a Chris Shuker cross from the right as Shaun Wright Phillips was about to apply the final touch.
City’s persistent attacking aided by the swirling wind finally paid off on twenty-one minutes. A succession of corners provided the opening goal of the night. Shuker’s first in swinging corner was headed off the line by Neil Wood for another corner.
This time Mikkel Bischoff helped the corner on and his flicked header landed at the feet of Glenn Whelan in a crowded area and he nonchalantly back heeled into the net virtually stood on the line
Roy Carroll then denied City a second goal when he kept out a curling shot from Shuker and the story continued as both Joey Barton and Wright-Phillips saw chances narrowly miss the target.
United’s best chance arrived on the stroke of half time when they were awarded a free kick after Jeff Whitley fouled Luke Chadwick on the edge of the box but that came to no avail but in the move Nick Weaver appeared to injure himself as he slipped on the greasy surface when covering the attempt on goal.
Weaver did not appear for the second half and was replaced by Kevin Ellegaard. Within three minutes of the restart City doubled their advantage, Whelan’s pass out to the left allowed Wright-Phillips to carry the ball on and he fired past an advancing Carroll.
Minutes later United were reduced to ten men. It appeared at first that Danny Pugh should have taken an early bath after hacking Wright-Phillips down for what should have been a second bookable offence but the referee realising he had already booked the United defender allowed City to advance towards the penalty area were Michael Stewart fouled Barton.
A melee ensued amongst the players over the challenge and Stewart was sent off having already been booked in the first half. What made the decision even stranger was that United were awarded the free kick for the offence.
With a man advantage City squandered a number of chances, Lucien Mettomo should have done better with a free header from a corner. Paul Ritchie saw his drive from distance tipped over in some style by Carroll.
The third and final goal finally arrived on seventy-five minutes when substitute Stephen Elliott ran on to a pass from Jeff Whitley and placed his shot to the left of Carroll.
In the dying minutes of the game the crowd (well at least the female half) were warmed up by a streaker who gave an impromptu display but this still did not take away the fact that City produced a very competent display and kept alive their hopes of reaching the final stages of the competition,
Team: Weaver( Ellegaard 46), Flood, Jordan, Mettomo, Bischoff, Ritchie, Barton. Whitley, Whelan, Wright-Phillips(Elliott 54), Shuker
Subs: McDowall, Onuoha, Orr
Attendance: 3288
:clap :clap :clap :clap