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FA Academy Premier League
Manchester City 1
Manchester United 1
Platt Lane, Moss Side
Manchester United's attempt to claim top spot in Group C of the Academy Premier League was again hampered with a second successive 1-1 draw, this time to their city neighbours.
The Reds were held to a 1-1 stalemate by Wolves last weekend and suffered the same fate in Moss Side on Saturday.
Francisco Filho's young charges are involved in a three-way battle in Group C - the North West regional division - with City and Blackburn Rovers.
United made the perfect start to this mini derby when the impressive Darron Gibson's long ball sent Fraizer Campbell bearing down on goal. The Reds' top goalscorer smashed his volley past Kasper Schmeichel to put United in front.
Campbell went close moments later with a glancing header, while Gibson could have doubled United's lead with a rasping long-range effort that fizzed just past the Schmeichel's left post.
The second half saw City put pressure on the Reds, the home side twice hit the woodwork.
But United could have put the game out of reach when substitute Phil Marsh found Campbell in the City penalty area. But the Huddersfield-born striker was heavy with his touch, and his close-range effort looped harmlessly over.
Disaster struck just as United were nearing a valuable 1-0 away victory; Reds keeper Lee Crockett losing out on a 50-50 race for the ball for City to snatch a point.
United's players were disappointed to let their lead slip so close to full-time, especially considering the standard of football produced during the opening 45 minutes from the Reds.
"We battled well in the first half, but let ourselves down a bit in the second half," United goalscorer Fraizer Campbell told MUTV. "They're always competitive matches."
"It was very tough because they're a physical side," added United defender Danny Simpson. "We're disappointed that we conceded the goal. We played very good football in the first half. After half time City started playing long ball because they had some big lads up front. And eventually they got the goal through doing that."
Simpson picked out midfield team-mate Darron Gibson for praise. The Derry-born player has been in fine form at Academy level.
"Darron's been in good form for us, not just recently but all season," he said. "It was a great pass for our goal and Fraizer did well to finish it off."
Blackburn beat Liverpool 1-0 on Saturday to move a point clear at the top of the league.
He seems to be doing well for the U18's. Here's a piece from the Liverpool game earlier in month:
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...while Darron Gibson orchestrated the team's attacking moves in the middle of the park.
Gibson engineered two of United's best chances in the first half, one of which led to Campbell's goal.
The Derry-born midfielder possesses a powerful shot and after 20 minutes saw his low 25-yard strike rebound off the post.
Liam Miller will play for the United reserves tonight. Partridge and Potter will be in opposing team.