United Under 21s Review | Rochdale away

Rochdale 0 - 2 United Under 21s

Our Under 21s secured their first win of this season's National League Cup group stages with a deserved victory over Rochdale.

Author | Pete Shaw

Chido Obi put United ahead inside 11 minutes with the kind of cool finish that has become his trademark, and for most of a soggy night at the Crown Oil Arena it looked like that would be enough to get the job done. Then, deep into added time, James Scanlon capped things off with a tidy second to spark a proper celebration from the young Reds and their supporters braving the rain.

A closer look at what happened

The first half was hardly one for the highlight reels, but it did have one moment that warmed the travelling Reds behind the goal. 

Jim Thwaites won possession on the edge of the Rochdale box and got his reward. A neat touch found Chido Obi, who showed the composure you love to see from an Academy striker as he tucked the ball past former United keeper Tom Myles.

From there, the game flickered into life only in patches. James Scanlon lit up the right flank with a classy bit of skill, lifting the ball over his marker and charging forward before his strike was blocked by Liam Hogan. Bendito Mantato, always eager to make something happen, killed a crossfield pass with style and shifted gears in a flash, delivering a teasing ball into the middle. When it was headed out, Diego Leon let fly from distance, but his effort sailed over.

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Mantato then forced Myles into a save of his own after cutting onto his left, though United couldn’t find that second goal to settle us before the break.

After half-time, Will Murdock finally had something to do, getting behind a tame Rochdale shot, and it was soon United on the front foot again. Jayce Fitzgerald tried his luck from range but lifted his effort just too high. Overy and Obi also saw attempts kept out by Myles, though neither side was exactly carving out clear openings as the game became a bit of a grind.