Manchester United scored three goals in five minutes to round off a consummate 5-1 victory against Salford City as their pre-season prep continues.
The visitors brought a Select XI chosen by United academy guru Warren Joyce which featured first team regulars James Wilson and Tyler Blackett.
Sadiq el Fitouri also returned to Moor Lane – a Salford triallist snapped up by United after the Libyan was recommended to the club by City co-owner Gary Neville.
Salford were hoping to secure their first home win since their Evo-Stik Premier play-off final win against Workington Town.
Manchester United took just three minutes to make that task look difficult.
James Wilson received a ball from deep in midfield, took a touch outside and drove a low cross/shot that Jay Lynch had little chance of stopping.
It took another six minutes before The Ammies got their first chance of the game.
Jordan Hulme hit a whipped cross to the centre, Mike Sphinx received the ball and tried an inside foot shot, however his body position was too awkward to put the ball on target.
Soon afterwards Hulme had a golden opportunity to equalise for the hosts when put through on goal via a defence-splitting ball from James Poole, yet couldn’t curl his shot past Dean Henderson.
Salford equalised through Richie Allen after Regan Poole carelessly gave away a penalty bringing James Poole down in the box with a desperate effort to prevent the striker from converting his one-on-one opportunity.
Less than a minute later The Red Devils got a chance to get back in front, a free kick from 20 yards out after a poor challenge from Billy Priestley.
Centre-back Tyler Blackett attempted the shot that had Hulme beat, but it clattered the crossbar.
United looked far better than Salford at set pieces as another chance fell for the visitors from the corner, Matthew Wilcox had a free header in the box, but watched in frustration as the ball sailed wide.
Despite being under siege for most of the first half, Salford had the best chance to go in front; again it was Sphinx who had a free header from a cross that was well saved by Henderson.
The goalkeeper didn’t clear it well enough though and relied on Blackett to clear the danger.
The opening ten minutes of the second half descended into typical pre-season style, with the only action coming from the subs bench and an ambulance driving past Moor Lane.
Both teams exchanged half chances but seemed equally happy to keep the status quo.
The status quo was broken though through a superb curled effort from outside the box by Josh Harrop, who managed to bend his shot around both Salford centre-halves and Lynch.
That goal put the bit between the visitors’ teeth, and James Wilson showcased his class on the hour mark.
Making a darting inside run, the hot prospect took Salford’s entire defence out the game, before scuffing a outside foot shot that was comfortably saved.
The chances continued thick and fast for United, first captain James Weir made a superb turn to beat Scott Burton before Lynch made an excellent save, then substitute Josh Harrop hit the crossbar after a thunderbolt strike from 20 yards.
It was a sign of things to come though, as United rounded of their excision to Moor Lane with three goals in the space of five minutes.
First Josh Harrop would finally get his goal courtesy of a strike to the bottom corner that Lynch could do nothing about, quickly followed a minute later by captain James Harrop’s second superb 90 degree turn of the game, this time finding himself one on one with the keeper before striking it in the far post
Finally, Matthew Olosunde got United’s fifth thanks to a two-touch run from a route one ball; the Under 18s prospect would then drive the ball past Lynch’s near post.
It was a crying shame for the home fans, who despite no points or trophies being on the line, witnessed their side hold their own against one of the best football academies in the world.
