Res: United 4 Wigan 1

17/11/2011 20:45, Report by Adam Marshall

Barclays Premier Reserve League North
Moss Lane, Altrincham

UNITED 4
(Morrison 16 54, Petrucci 64, Fryers 79)

WIGAN 1
(Dicko 82)

Attendance: 556

United's Reserves put on a splendid show at Moss Lane as a brace from Ravel Morrison and further goals from captain Davide Petrucci and Ezekiel Fryers earned a 4-1 victory over Wigan to take the team to the top of the table.

Encouragingly, Rafael and Darron Gibson also both played 90 minutes on their comeback from shoulder and foot injuries respectively.

With Warren Joyce confirming beforehand he is staying in charge of the side despite being targeted for the Hull City job, the Reds knocked the ball around with confidence but the opening quarter of an hour was devoid of any real opportunities. That all changed when Morrison collected the ball on the edge of the area, worked it onto his right foot and curled a top-class finish past Lee Nicholls.

Morrison was then inches away from connecting with Rafael's excellent cross and was almost through again, only to be ushered away by the stout Rob Kiernan. Paul Pogba nearly doubled the lead with a well-placed free-kick that was flipped away brilliantly by Nicholls six minutes before the break. Rafael, meanwhile, continued to impress and another teasing centre was agonisingly out of Will Keane's reach in the middle. However, Wigan finished the half on top and carved out their clearest opening when Danny Redmond's cross was almost met by Nouha Dicko - a similar chance to the one at the other end moments earlier.

Jesse Lingard was heavily involved at the start of the second half and forced a save out of Nicholls with a stinging drive when Pogba flicked the ball invitingly into his path before slamming a right-foot shot wide following a storming run forward by Michael Keane.

Morrison doubled his - and United's - tally with a beautiful finish after 54 minutes, finding the bottom corner of the net with an instant shot after Will Keane slipped the ball inside to the talented No10. Pogba then unleashed an absolute rocket that flew just wide and had fans ducking behind the goal in fear for their safety before the Frenchman's inviting free-kick was unable to find a finish at the far post.

Jesjua Angoy, former Red Jordi Cruyff's nephew, came on for the visitors but he could only watch on as Petrucci smashed an emphatic finish into the net after keeper Nicholls could only parry out a cross from Lingard. After Joyce made a couple of substitutions, United continued to press and a backpass from Callum Morris bounced up off a divot and almost embarrassed Nicholls.

Fryers moved up from the heart of the defence to steer in a glancing header a John Cofie cross from the left to extend the lead further, only for Dicko to pull one back with a smart shot from a difficult angle, ramming the ball past Ben Amos and into the roof of the net for 4-1. Amos had to make a great stop to thwart Morris in the dying seconds but United were full value for the three points, even if Marnick Vermijl's late injury will cause some concern.

United: Amos; Rafael, M.Keane, Fryers, Vermijl (Leao 84); Pogba (Cofie 76), Gibson, Petrucci, Lingard; Morrison; W.Keane (Massacci 71). Subs: Jacob, McGinty.

source : Manutd