An entertaining encounter at the Aon Training Complex yielded plenty of goals but ultimately ended in disappointment for United's U18s as Paul McGuinness' side slipped to a 3-2 defeat against Bolton Wanderers.
The visitors began brightly and set about putting United under some early pressure as they aimed to secure a second win of the campaign over the Reds. However, despite blustery conditions which could have aided Bolton's quest, United saw out the brief early storm and the Reds' first attack of significance brought about the game's opening goal.
Left-back Ben Barber received the ball wide on the left and proceeded to swing an excellent cross into the box looking for Ashley Fletcher. The striker stormed into the area but the ball fell just behind him. However, his slight touch took the pace off the cross, enabling fellow forward Ruairi Croskery to fire home.
Buoyed by the early advantage, United grew in confidence as Fletcher and Croskery again linked up well to take the Reds close to doubling the lead. Following intricate play on the edge of the area, the ball found its way via Rashford and Fletcher to Croskery, who blazed his shot over the crossbar.
In an increasingly action-packed encounter the visitors also offered plenty going forward. Jordan Hendrie persisted to make probing runs from right-back, with one such foray leading to an opportunity for Carl Kennedy, whose shot was well off target. Soon after, Guillermo Torres tested Reds' stopper Dean Henderson with a stinging drive, but the score would remain the same as the teams went in at the break.
McGuinness sent his young side out looking for more goals as the second-half got under way, but it was Bolton who once again began the half more assertively. Following a congested midfield tussle in the visitor's half, they launched a counter-attack and the ball found its way to Luke Emery, who hit a low drive towards Dean Henderson's goal deflected effort almost wrong-footed the Reds goalkeeper. However, Henderson's excellent reflexes enabled him to reach the ball and palm it away.
Sadly, the English stopper's intervention was to serve only as a momentary reprieve because Bolton soon restored parity. Having received the ball on the left, winger Jamie Thomas cut inside and scythed through the United defence before placing the ball beyond Henderson's reach.
With the wind well and truly in their sails, the Trotters began to exert control on proceedings and although Borthwick-Jackson was a whisker away from putting the Reds back in front, it was the visitors who beat United to the punch.
Just after the 70-minute mark, Jamie Thomas provided his second moment of inspiration as he arced a measured free-kick into the top corner of the goal, resulting in wild celebrations from the away side. The strike was Thomas' third goal against United this season and left the Reds a mountain to climb.
United looked to respond immediately and bombed forward valiantly. However, the game was finished as a contest on 86 minutes when Nathan Burke secured all three points for Bolton with an arrowed left-footed drive. Ashley Fletcher's late, deflected strike served only as a consolation
