Manchester United u21s started their EFL Trophy campaign on Tuesday night away to League One outfit Barnsley.
The night marked a special occasion for the Devaney family as United’s 17 year old Jacob Devaney got the start in midfield, while his father Martin Devaney was on the sideline for Barnsley as part of the coaching staff.
The fairy tale didn’t last long for the younger Devaney though as an early loose pass back gave the ball to Barnsley on the right wing and the home side were quick to pounce, centring the ball to Vimal Yoganathan to score from close range in the 10th minute.
Despite falling behind early, United were controlling the possession with Ethan Ennis causing trouble on the right wing. The young winger carved open a chance for himself after some hard work to win the ball, Ennis then raced into the box before flashing the ball across the face of the goal and wide.
Ennis then played provider, passing to Ethan Wheatley to take on the turn into the box and fire a low shot that was only kept out by a big save from the keeper’s foot.
But up against senior opposition, Travis Binnion’s side learnt that mistakes prove costly as another errant pass saw Barnsley double their lead in the 37th minute. Almost a carbon copy of the first goal but on their left wing this time, Wheatley played a sloppy back pass which allowed Barnsley to pick up the ball and get to the byline for a cutback to Yoganathan again to add his second of the match.
The score remained 2-0 going into the break and Binnion looked to his bench to introduce Sonny Aljofree for the second half.
Sam Mather had his first bright moment early in the second half when he twisted his marker inside and out before whipping a cross into the box which was pushed clear by the keeper.
Binnion turned to the bench again to bring on Jack Fletcher who made an immediate impact with his liveliness in the number 10 role.
Harry Amass slipped Fletcher in down the left side of the box to the byline for the midfielder to cut back to Wheatley in a central area but the striker couldn’t get his shot past the covering defenders who blocked out for a corner.
In the 81st minute, James Nolan got down the right wing to play the ball inside to a wide open Ennis waiting at the penalty spot to loop the ball over the keeper and into the far left corner.
Three minutes later, United drew it level with an early goal of the season contender. Fletcher took the ball down on his chest 30 yards out and hit it on the half volley, dipping over the keeper and in.
Jack Fletcher what a strike pic.twitter.com/2Wc67iK6Nk
— Manchester_United_Youth (@MUFC_Youth) August 20, 2024
An incredible six minutes was capped off in the 87th minute when Fletcher completed the comeback to grab the late winner. Creeping in behind the backline on a throw-in, Fletcher received the ball in the right corner and was free to cut into the box and finish low into the near right corner.
Jack Fletcher scores his 2nd to make it 3-2
Comeback complete pic.twitter.com/VRGxoF3p0R
— Manchester_United_Youth (@MUFC_Youth) August 20, 2024
Things then went from bad to worse for Barnsley when Corey O’Keefe was shown a straight red card in injury time when he lashed out a flailing arm when tussling with Amass.
The final whistle came soon after as the travelling United fans drowned out the home support.
Binnion’s side now look forward to Friday when they will host Stoke City u21s in Premier League 2 action.
United: Heaton, Ogunneye (Nolan 73), Jackson (Aljofree 46), Fredricson, Amass, Collyer, Devaney, Ennis, Curley (J. Fletcher 57), Mather (Williams 73), Wheatley
Unused subs: Harrison, Sharpe, Biancheri
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