Lancashire Senior Cup semi-final
Deepdale, 20 April 2009
PRESTON NORTH END 0
MANCHESTER UNITED 4
Drinkwater, Martin, Ajose, James
An emphatic second-half display put cup holders United into the
final of the Lancashire Senior Cup, as Preston North End were
totally overrun at Deepdale.
Wes Brown also completed an hour of action on his return from
injury, enjoying a largely untroubled shift at right-back as United
dominated proceedings.
With Kiko Macheda and Danny Welbeck both recovering from their
Wembley exertions, it was down to in-form Lee Martin to operate as
a makeshift striker, and it was he who came closest with a shot
into the side netting just before the interval.
The Reds didn’t have to wait long to forge ahead, as Danny
Drinkwater bagged his second goal in as many games before the
hour-mark, converting from close range after a break.
The goal broke Preston’s resistance, and they had no answer as
United continued to pull away. Martin bundled home a Zoran Tosic
corner before turning provider, feeding Richard Eckersley to cross
for Nicky Ajose.
United continued to create chances by the hatful, but the final
– and finest – goal couldn’t even be described as a half chance:
substitute Matty James rifling home a quite brilliant effort from
25 yards.
United: Amos; W Brown (Dudgeon 60), De Laet, Gill, Eckersley;
Eikrem (Ajose 70), Drinkwater, James, C Evans (Stewart 63), Tosic;
Martin.
Subs not used: Devlin, Derbyshire.