Town’s U15s fell to a 3-2 defeat to Manchester United’s youngsters in their annual Portman Road showcase friendly on Friday evening. The young Blues were the better side before the break but both their goals — scored by Nick Ingram and Sean McKirdy - came in injury time of a second half in which the visitors had largely been on top.
The home side started strongly and in the second minute Irish U15 international striker Cemal Ramadan was sent through on goal but shot into United keeper Dean Henderson’s arms.
Blues midfielder Edward Ellis forced save from Henderson on six and from the resultant corner, Henderson brilliantly tipped over Billy Curson’s header.
The visitors went ahead in the 10th minute after Kudai Benyu fouled Scott McTominay in the area. Blues keeper Tim Brown, on loan from West Ham, saved the spotkick from Nathan Palmer but Demetre Mitchell followed up to score.
Town went close again two minutes later when Matthew Clarke’s shot was diverted just past the post by the lively Ramadan. At the other end, scorer Mitchell shot over. Clarke headed over for the Blues, then on 20 Henderson pushed Ellis’s low 20-yard strike wide.
United added to their lead on 32 when McTominay twisted and turned inside the box before cutting the ball past keeper Brown.
Ramadan headed goalwards but too close to Henderson, then Ellis poked a cross from the left to the Manchester United keeper with the Blues continuing to have most of the ball and almost all of the chances despite the scoreline, which remained the same at half-time.
Four minutes after the break, the Premier League side increased their lead to 3-0, Demetre Mitchell hitting a deflected freekick which beat Brown.
Moments later, Blues sub Ronaldo Jones saw a shot cleared from inside the six yard box. The strike looked to be going wide but Ramadan appeared likely to divert at the far post.
On 61 sub Chris Smith shot over with Town continuing to press but without any luck in front of goal, although by now United were having most of the ball and keeping possession comfortably for the most part.
Sub keeper Tobie Stollery tipped over from Benjamin Greenop, then in injury time the Blues pulled a goal back, Nick Ingram tapping in from Harry Daly’s cross from the right.
A second followed soon after, Ronaldo Jones saw a shot saved by Henderson, before his second attempt fell to Sean McKirdy, who found the net. Sadly for Town, there was no time for an equaliser.
The Blues had been the better side before the break when they were unfortunate to be behind but United controlled the second period until Town’s late but ultimately fruitless fightback.
Meanwhile, striker Cemal Ramadan has been named in the Irish U15 squad for friendlies in Austria on April 24th and 25th.
Town: Tim Brown (Tobie Stollery 72), Joshua Emmanuel (Harry Daly 63), Matthew Rose, George Fowler, Billy Curson (Isaac Maynard 67), Kudai Benyu (Ronaldo Jones 41), Edward Ellis (James Baughurst 44), Henry Okosi (Sonny Howard 44), Nick Ingram (Chris Smith 50), Cemal Ramadan (Nick Ingram 70), Matthew Clarke (Sean McKirdy 64).
Manchester United: Dean Henderson, Bradley Carroll (Travis Johnson 58), Samuel Hart (Faustin Makela 55), Tosin Kehine (Devonte Redmond 52), Joseph Moulden, Cameron Borthwick, Marcus Rashford, Scott McTominay (Samuel Smith 53), Nathan Palmer (Charlie Scott 58), Benjamin Greenop (Tosin Kehine 90), Demetre Mitchell.