Personal Report Reserves Match OT UNITED v Leeds 28/4/99 Now then - that was much better! From: Peter Hargreaves I went to the Reserve match last night and it was excellent. The weather was absolutely fantastic with clear blue skies and bright (and warm!) sunshine. It was so warm, in fact, that I decided to take a chance and NOT have a meat and potato pie OR a Bovril! Well that's me you know, always one to risk it big time. Before you think, though, that I had completely lost the plot, let me reassure you that I had kept me vest on. I mean, this is Manchester when all is said and done. I arrived early doors at Old Trafford because it was my responsibility to get the ticket applications for Wembley into the office. I had been over me mam and dad's on Monday and was panicking a bit, to be honest, because (a) me dad is away (he deals with all our ticket applications) and (b) the token sheets had not returned from the application for Blackburn and M/boro tickets. I most certainly did not want to be the person responsible for us missing the application date. Anyway I got over there early on and there they were on the doorstep, along with tickets for the aforementioned games (thank you the ticket office and the ballot!). Any road, after a meal of pie and chips on Chester Road it was into Old Trafford, hoping that the 'stiffs' would give a half decent performance after the absolute crap they had served up over the preceding four matches. As I entered the ground I immediately spotted Linda so that was great as I would have someone to talk to. For those of you who have not been lucky enough to meet up with Linda let me tell you that she is as entertaining to talk to as she is to read. Whilst Linda and myself don't always agree (chuckle!) on certain issues we seem to get along pretty well and last night was really good. I was pleased to hear, over the tannoy, that, unlike (Ryan)Gigg(s) Lane there would be an announcement on the teams. Hurriedly looking for me glasses and pen (I KNOW how much you look forward to hearing who has played in these games) I was ready. This lass went through both teams (and substitutes) only for me to discover that there were no bloody changes. Perhaps the concept of a "Teams as per programme" announcement hasn't dawned on this lass yet, or maybe she just likes building up the pre-match tension - I don't know. For those of you who care about such things, then, the team was: 1. Raimond VanderGorgeous (that's a Lindasim by the way - I don't fancy him at all - well perhaps just a bit!) 2. Michael Clegg (played centre-half again, alongside O'Shea) 3. George Clegg 4. Stephen Rose 5. John O'Shea (he of the gangling stature, whose name I did not know, but have taken a bit of a shine to recently) 6. Ryan Ford (the very little lad) 7. Richard Wellens (typical third division, British bulldog-looking lad, who works his trollope off all game) 8. Mark Wilson (tall lad, battler and with very good, quick feet) 9. David Healy 10. John Thorrington 11. Luke Chadwick (Linda tells me that the powers-that-be at OT have very high hopes for this kid and he has, apparently, just signed professional forms) Subs: Fitzpatrick, Culkin (STILL a BDS lookalike!), Wheatcroft, Cosgrove, and Howard. The Leeds team contained a number of first-teamers, so they were obviously 'up for it'. The big lad up front (Ribeiro - came on as a sub last Sunday I think) had a good game and used his strength and experience to some effect. Young Clegg played in the centre of defence and was really put to the test. We looked a completely different team last night, playing fast, incisive and productive football. We looked as good as we had looked bad over the last few weeks. Perhaps it has dawned on the lads that places in the FA Cup and European Cup Finals are up for grabs. Whatever, we looked very sharp indeed. We scored the first after eight minutes when a nice interchange in midfield sent Wilson through with only the goalie to beat. He kept a very cool head and slotted one home. Play then evened out with us trying to catch them with quick bursts and them looking to use the strength of the big lad to play their other lads in. After about thirty minutes the referee hobbled over towards us (well the dugout really) and he looked in some distress. He had obviously pulled a muscle and it was very quickly decided that he could not continue and the fourth official came on. The linesman who took over from the referee reminded me of Corporal Jones in Dad's Army (sorry World, this will mean absolutely nothing to you I guess) as he did everything, made every decision, about five seconds after everybody else - including the players! Just before half time we got a free kick on the edge of the box, left side, and young Ford whipped a beautiful cross over (not unlike the ZZ cross in Turin) and young Chadwick went in far post for a stooping and very well taken headed goal. 2-0 at half time then, so we were feeling more than happy. The sun was still shining and I had, as yet, still not put me coat on! Second half and they had made a couple of changes, obviously had a right bollocking from Eddie Gray and came out with a bit more purpose. One sheepshag....shearer fan made Linda and myself chuckle when he shouted "YESsssssss" as a Leeds shot narrowly missed the far post. His timing was immaculate as a hush had descended just as he exclaimed - you could definitely hear murmurings of discontent from some of the younger lads sat around this poor sod, but nothing came of it. In the seventh minute they scored from a penalty. The big lad got 'wrong side' of Clegg and our man had to pull him back to prevent him scoring. Whilst Clegg (M) did have slightly better game again (I don't know why, but he seems to be able to effect far better distribution when he's in the centre of defence) he showed his inexperience several times - this one being the worst example. He was, perhaps, a little fortunate not to be further punished, but the ref seemed to settle for simply giving them the penalty. This is a very young team and that Leeds goal could have unsettled them - it didn't. In fact we replied in the best possible way by going down the field and scoring immediately! Once again we played good passes and got Healy away, left side, and he netted with a very well placed shot. From that point on there was only ever going to be one team in it. Leeds battled well but we totally outplayed them. Our fourth goal came in the thirty-fifth minute when Wilson picked up the ball wide right, jinked inside and hit a cracking shot across the goalie and into the side netting, just inside the post. Excellent goal. We could, and should, have had more to be honest, but Wilson was bit greedy on a couple of occasions. It was obvious he wanted a hat-trick! Both Linda and me noticed that his goal celebrations were quite obviously well rehearsed. His is the 'I'll-stand-still and nod-my-head-slowly' style (as used for a time by the little shit Wright at the Arse). Still these kids deserve their five minutes of fame. 4-1, then, it was at the final whistle and whilst it flattered us ever so slightly over the ninety we did play well. What a pity that we let those points slip. I don't think we can overhaul Sunderland now, but second will be very creditable for these young boys. The one sad thing about a lovely evening like last night is the realisation that summer is just around the corner and, with summer, is the end of the season. Linda and myself were discussing an end-of-season get-together in the Throstles Nest before the Spurs match. We intend to be in the Nest by opening time (11:30, I think - I'll try and have a word with Keiran the landlord) so if anybody would like to join us we'd be delighted. Dad and I have the great pleasure of meeting so many List members in the Nest - and a pleasure it ALWAYS is. Try and get there if you can. As for the Rest of the World?!! Have a pint for us on the 16th - wherever you may be, if you can't make it to the Nest! Keep the Faith, Pete Copyright © 1999 Peter Hargreaves. All rights reserved. Not to be reproduced without permission of the author. ----------------------------------------------- Subject: Reserves win 4-1 + TV v.quick fire From: Barry Leeming REDS reserves beat Sheep Reserves 4-1 2 nite Wilson2, Chadwick, Healey Excellent performance! Team Van der Gouw Rose Clegg M OShea Clegg G Wellens Ford Thorrington-Smith Chadwick Wilson Healey HT 2-0 Team overall GOOD performance 8m Wilson scored excellent shot 1-0 30 Van der save 35 Chadwick good run 40 Ryan Ford to Luke Chadwick diving header great goal 2-0 47 Wellens shot saved 54 Dubious Leeds penalty 2-1 soon after David Healey good shot 3-1 4-1 Wilson again rounding off a fine evening played at Theatre Of Dreams 85m Healey had a good shot saved again An experienced Leeds team played off the park. Only 3 1sy team players for us, the kids came out on top. Jim Ryan and Tony Cotton very pleased. Wellens played exceptionally, Wilson Healey Chadwick looking good up front. Chadwick will be even better when he learns to cross, he is very fast on the run! Barry armchair viewing (did anyone else play tonight?) PONTIN TABLE P W D L F A Pts UNITED (2) 23 13 4 6 48 27 43 Sunderland (-) 21 12 6 3 40 16 42 Liverpool (10) 19 9 7 3 22 14 34 Leeds (1) 22 9 3 10 40 39 30 Remaining game Mon 3 PRESTON NORTH END (H) Gigg Lane Latest Match report with pics http://mufc.simplenet.com/miva/matchreports.mv Manchester United Reserves http://mufc.simplenet.com/mufc/pontin.htm Updated weekly by Paul Hinson 1200+ Manchester United Pics Index! http://mufc.simplenet.com/pics Webmaster Mail: barry@mufc.simplenet.com Url: http://mufc.simplenet.com World of Manchester United Football Club.