Reserves: United 6 Stockport 1
Club captain Gary Neville completed 60 minutes of the Reserves
Manchester Senior Cup win over Stockport County, posting his first
action since March.
The 32-year-old defender enjoyed a stern test in a fiercely-fought
local derby, which United won 6-1 through goals from Chris Eagles,
Sean Evans and braces from Febian Brandy and Dong Fangzhuo.
Aside from one or two hints of ring-rustiness predictable after
seven months on the sidelines Neville looked solid throughout,
and did well in the centre of defence alongside Jonny Evans.
Eagles put United ahead after 18 minutes with a superb free-kick,
lining up his strike from 25 yards before curling it high into the
corner of the goal.
Immediately after the restart, Neville was cautioned. He firstly
slipped and caught a County attacker and then, as he tried to get
to his feet, caught another with a late challenge and entered the
book.
The England international was involved again as County drew level
through Dan Ellis 10 minutes, sliding in with Neville and just
managing to convert a teasing left-wing cross.
United immediately pressed to regain their lead, and came extremely
close in the latter stages of the half. Eagles clipped in a lovely
cross to pick out the onrushing David Gray, but his header was
straight at goalkeeper Chris Adamson, while Sean Evans was
desperately unlucky to see his 35-yard volley land on the roof of
Adamsons net moments later.
The left winger didnt have to wait long to get on the scoresheet,
however. Less than two minutes of the second period had passed when
Michael Barnes corner fell to Evans around 15 yards out, and he
lashed the ball into the far top corner.
Neville was replaced by Richard Eckersley after 57 minutes, and
five minutes later United were 3-1 up. Again it came from a
setpiece, with Dong lashing home a slightly deflected 25-yard free
kick for his first competitive Reserves goal.
A fourth goal came just 70 seconds later. Dongs pass for Sean
Evans was overhit, but the winger did superbly to rob the defender
and square a cross for Febian Brandy, who slotted home with great
aplomb.
The diminutive forward fired home again with a cool finish after
more good build-up play from Eagles, before Dong fired home from 15
yards with 16 minutes remaining.
An emphatic scoreline in the end, which was just reward for a
dominant second-half display from United. The undoubted highlight
of the evening, however, was the welcome return of United's
influential club captain.
United: Heaton, Gray, J Evans, Neville (R Eckersley, 57), Simpson,
Lee, Barnes,
Eagles, Dong, Brandy (Welbeck, 74), S Evans.
Subs not used: Zieler, Chester, Bryan.
