(Manchester United News)
Manchester United consolidated top spot in the Barclays Under-21 Premier League table with a 2-1 victory against Everton at Southport's Haig Avenue.
James Wilson opened the scoring before going off injured and Paddy McNair bagged the eventual winner later in the first half. Jonjoe Kenny pulled one back in the closing stages from the penalty spot but the Reds held out for a hard-earned success.
Liam Grimshaw was left in the clear by a poor pass by George Green after Wilson, already hobbling from the first minute, confused the home midfielder by being unable to make a full-blooded challenge. Russell Griffiths won the duel with Grimshaw, however, saving smartly and, from the corner, Andreas Pereira guided a curler wide of the target.
Anders Lindegaard handled right on the edge of his area to cause a nervy moment but his side went in front with only eight minutes gone. When Brendan Galloway miscontrolled a diagonal pass by Adnan Januzaj, Pereira nipped in to force Griffiths into a diving save with Wilson gratefully gobbling up the rebound.
Everton's response was impressive and they created some good chances with Green's shot saved by Lindegaard and Ryan Ledson flashing a drive just over the top. A Galloway cross took a nick and could have gone anywhere as, aside from a Grimshaw shot that deflected to Griffiths, United lacked any punch with Wilson clearly struggling.
Josh Harrop replaced the goalscorer five minutes before the interval and the Reds extended the lead seconds before the half-time whistle. Pereira produced a high-quality set-piece and it was only half-cleared by a combination of Tyias Browning and Griffiths to McNair, who delicately lobbed into the unguarded net with a precise finish.
The Toffees almost pulled one back moments after the restart when David Henen latched onto a Ledson pass but drilled off target from a dangerous position. However, for all their possession, the Merseysiders failed to really trouble Lindegaard. The keeper did watch a free-kick by Green sail over the bar but Warren Joyce's men contained any threat with plenty of endeavour and organisation.
Green had a shot that clipped off Grimshaw on its way off target as the contest entered the final quarter of an hour before Lindegaard was down quickly to gather a Henen effort from a tight angle. Ledson skied another sight of goal but the Merseysiders were given a lifeline when the assistant referee decided Sean Goss had deliberately offended when the ball bounced off him and against his hand inside the box.
It looked harsh but Everton skipper Kenny was not about to show any respite and sent Lindegaard the wrong way from the spot. United were stung into action and Pereira's free-kick off the wall and over the bar was the first noteworthy attempt of the second half for his side but there can be few complaints about the final scoreline from the hosts.
United: Lindegaard; Love, McNair,Thorpe, Kellett; Grimshaw, Goss; Rothwell (Weir 46), A.Pereira, Januzaj; Wilson (Harrop 40). Subs not used: O'Hara, C.Evans, Willock.
