Nico

Blake's heaven as kids shine for United

KEITH ANDERSON


SYLVAN EBANK-BLAKE may not be a household name in comparison with superstars including David Beckham, Ryan Giggs and Paul Scholes but watch out for this young Red Devil in the next few years.

The 18-year-old Manchester United hitman notched a superb hat trick against Edinburgh City to help earn the Old Trafford youngsters a 4-2 win to celebrate City’s 75th anniversary.

A crowd of 2003 turned up to see the Manchester United stars of the future and they were not disappointed with six quality goals in the sunshine at Meadowbank Stadium, for once without the wind that traditionally blows down the pitch.

City were honoured to have such noteworthy opposition as, arguably, the biggest club in the world and although it was predominantly their FA Youth Cup squad for this coming season, the name of Manchester United is synonymous with quality of the highest standard.

However, City, under the watchful eye of the new manager, Tom Steven, started the brighter although midfield player, Willie Edgar, was carried off after only four minutes with an injured knee.

Chris Gordon, a product of City’s under-18 development squad, replaced Edgar and moved up front where he was a constant thorn in the side of the United defence and an inswinging cross from him tested Luke Steele in the United goal.

Then a Tadg Moriarty free-kick was also held by the busier goal keeper as City captain Brian Foster waited to pounce.

In the 20th minute the crowd was expectant when United were awarded a direct free-kick 25 yards out after Gary Jardine had brought down the impressive Marcus Meumayer.

Would United have another up-and-coming David Beckham?

Meumayer took the free-kick himself and although the ball beat the defensive wall Alan Mackintosh was there to save it comfortably.

Phil Marsh then pulled a shot wide of the target before the crowd were applauding a cracking goal from City.

A Jardine free-kick to the back post was headed across goal by Foster and Moriarty wheeled to slam a bicycle kick high into the net from eight yards.

The lead was to last only five minutes before Ebank-Blake showed pace, composure and no uncertain ability with the ball at his feet to evade three tackles in the City penalty box before passing the ball into the net from 14 yards.

Steele continued to be the busier goalkeeper when he palmed out efforts by Andy Donachie and Chris Nye. A 1-1 scoreline at half-time was an excellent achievement by City and manager, Steven, took the opportunity to bring on five substitutes for the second period.

It took Ebank-Blake only a few minutes to register his second goal, though, when he found space and darted behind the City defence before drawing Mackintosh and coolly slipping the ball into the net at the far post.

However, City were not to be outdone and a five-man move which started in their own penalty box after Foster fed Andy Irving brought them an equaliser. Irving threaded a pass to Gerry Burgess who found Gordon wide on the right and his pinpoint cross was headed into the net by Lee Hartley. It was a classic goal which any professional side would have been happy to score.

There were 20 minutes remaining when United took the lead with a goal which came from a suspiciously offside position. Both Ebank-Blake and Aaron Burns looked offside when they both went for a through ball.

Ebank-Blake won it and put through Burns who scored from an acute angle despite loud protests from the City defenders.

Only two minutes later, Ebank-Blake confirmed United’s victory when he controlled the ball, ran at the defence and chipped the ball past Mackintosh for his hat-trick.

Brian McClair, the former Celtic, Manchester United and Scottish internationalist who is in charge of the United youngsters said: "It was a great experience for our young players because they do not get enough opportunities to play against adults.

"We regard this as a very important part of their footballing education.

"Some of the players were only schoolboys and I thought they conducted themselves well.

"It also gave them the chance to breathe in some nice, clean Scottish air," smiled McClair.

Moriarty, who scored City’s first goal said: "The game was played at a high tempo but I felt that we gave a good account of ourselves."

Hartley, City’s other scorer said: "I was just determined to get to the front post and luckily I connected and managed to head the ball into the far corner. Manchester United were absolute class and that is the way to play football.

"Hopefully, we can all learn from that because it was a brilliant experience."

City captain Brian Foster was also full of praise for the United youngsters.

He said: "It was like playing two-touch football all over the park although they always seemed to have an extra man. Having said that, I thought that we competed well until their level of fitness showed in the last 15 minutes."

City manager Steven said: "We scored two good goals and gave everybody in the squad a game.

"To score two goals against a Manchester United team has to be very satisfactory. They have the pick of all the quality young footballers in Britain.

"We have done the East of Scotland League proud and it is my job to ensure that we get that kind of performance every week."

Edinburgh City: Mackintosh, Ferry, Jardine, Edgar, Foster, McNamara, Donachie, Moriarty, Nye, Seeley, Murray. Subs: Irving, C Gordon, G Gordon, Burgess, Godden, Hartley, McColl, Mullen, Vannett.

Manchester United: Steele, Bardsley, Hogg, McGuala, McShane, Booth, Meumayer, Jones, Ebank-Blake, Marsh, Port. Subs: Day, Heaton, Lee, Burns, Wallwork.