U18s: Stoke 1 United 4

United head coach Neil Ryan was forced to make an early change to his line-up when Arnau Puigmal suffered a back injury and was replaced by Anthony Elanga. Ethan Galbraith, who started on the right wing, dropped back into Puigmal's full-back spot with Elanga joining the fray in midfield.

There was little in the way of goalmouth action during the opening exchanges but, in the 13th minute, an inch perfect through ball form Dylan Levitt sent Greenwood racing towards goal and, within seconds, he had swept past goalkeeper Nathan Broome before shooting into an unguarded net. United, in all blue to avoid a clash with the Potters' red and white stripes, weren't having it all our own way and only resolute defending prevented the home side from claiming an equaliser.

Shortly before the half-hour mark, United very nearly increased the lead but Mellor was denied when his shot brought an excellent save from Broome. Keeper Broome was Stoke's saviour again, in the 36th minute, when he made a spectacular one-handed save to stop Greenwood's arrowing free-kick. The Reds were enjoying a good spell as half-time loomed and, but for Broome and his defenders, Elanga would surely have added his name to the scoresheet.