Date: 26-07-22 United side edge dull final home friendly

26-07-22 - Friendly - United side edge dull final home friendly

Report by Dan Harper:

A talented side of Manchester United academy players came out 1-0 victors past a fighting Harriers side in a fairly uneventful final home friendly for the Harriers.

Noticeably this was a fixture the Harriers took very seriously which looked to initially shake the talented opposition with notable early crunch tackles from Nathan Lowe and Harriers also testing Dermot Mee from the first whistle.

The two sides shared their fair few chances within the first twenty minutes as Tom Palmer saved chances from the likes of number nine Charlie McNeill and the highly rated Shola Shoretire who previously has played for Manchester United in European football. Harriers had their turn with the highlight being Zak Brown’s seventeenth-minute strike going just past the goal and Nathan Lowe’s drive into the chest of Dermot Mee – ‘United’s shot-stopper.

As the second half came to a close Shoretire was once again denied, this time by Tom Palmer’s right-hand upright as the away side looked to finish the half with a flourish.

HT: 0 – 0

Just seconds after the start of the second half, and that quick not even fans could get back to their seats/standing spots, Yusifu Ceesay went on a driving run as he drifted past a defender and fired into the side netting as the home side looked to make an early impact and catch the away side napping – which they nearly did.

The Harriers made their first changes once again as the clock turned to the hour mark as Krystian Pearce and Trialist F – who played in every position you could think of except the goalkeeper – made way for Nathaniel Knight-Percival and Trialist A.

It would be the former change that would contribute to the first goal of the game as the men from Carrington broke the deadlock when the clock hit the 67th minute. McNeill made the most of Knight-Percival losing possession and laid a cross on the plate for Mateo Mejia to apply the finish into the South Stand net.

A period of momentum for the away side possibly contributed to the constant disruption for the home side’s flow of play as constant substitutions were introduced including Trialist C, Kai Lissimore, Jack Tolley and Trialist D. This would include chances such as this time Mateo Mejia being denied by Tom Palmer as an effort was be turned on to the post.

Overall the second half was to be a half where the away side would show why they are one of the best academies in the world as they showed their quality arguably in maintaining a high level throughout and Omari Forson would be the player to have the final effort of the night for United as he dragged the ball wide of the post.

The Harriers will play their final pre-season fixture of the 2022-23 campaign ahead of the opening day trek to Blyth Spartans when they make the short trip to Halesowen Town for a 3 pm kick-off on Saturday 30th July.

FT: 0 – 1


Harriers: Palmer, Foulkes, Richards, Leak, Lowe, Pearce, Hemmings, Martin, Ceesay, Brown, Trialist F.

Subs: Emery, Knight-Percival, Lissimore, Tolley, Trialist A,  Trialist C, Bastable, Trialist D, Hewett.

Manchester Utd XI: Mee, Wellens, Pye, Hardley, Fredricson, Galbraith, Mejia, Collyer, McNeill, Shortire, Forson.

Subs: Wooster, Jurado, Hansen-Aaren, Moorhouse, Mainoo.

Referee: Greg Rollason. Worcester

Att: 2972 (404)