LSC Semi-Final: United 1 Oldham 1 (Oldham won 4-3 on pens)

Despite taking the lead through promising American youngster Matthew Olosunde, United were pegged back by an experienced Oldham side and went out of the Lancashire Senior Cup on penalties for the second year running.

Oldham looked the stronger side for much of the first half of this semi-final, held over from last season, and were denied what looked a clear penalty when Winchester was brought down by El Fitouri in the area.  Even United fans will surely be at a loss as to why the referee didn't give it and Oldham's protests continued well after the incident.

Aside from that stroke of good fortune, United's defence - ably marshalled, as usual, by the excellent Axel Tuanzabe - coped well with the visitors' attacking threat, though it was very much against the run of play that United took the lead. Regan Poole did well to recover the ball after an over-hit corner and his cross into the area was met by Olosunde, who crashed the ball home to score on his debut for the reserves.

McTominay, playing in the long striker role, almost doubled the Reds' lead just after the break when a forceful run into the box ended with his shot being saved by Kettings in the Oldham goal.  Instead, moments later it was Oldham who got an equaliser, Cassidy's header at the back post looping over Henderson into the far corner.

McTominay went close again, only to draw an even better save from the Oldham keeper, who did brilliantly to turn his shot around the post.  In a game that was becoming far more open in the second period, Henderson did well at the other end to save with an outstretched right leg from Woodland.

McTominay, again, and Willock both went close as United pressed for winner in the later stages but, with the score level at 1-1 at ninety minutes, Lancashire Senior Cup rules deemed that the game would go straight to a penalty shoot-out.  

When Kettings saved McTominay's first penalty for the Reds, things looked break, but Cassidy then skied his spot kick over the bar to leave scores level.  They continued that way until Mitchell missed his kick for United and Oldham duly wrapped things up to set up a final against Everton next week.

LSC Quarter-Final: Blackpool 0 United 1

A tight Lancashire Senior Cup Quarter Final ended with a young United side overcoming Blackpool thanks to a single McTominay goal.   

With a heavy schedule at the moment and so many Under-21 players standing by on senior duty, Warren Joyce fielded a very inexperienced side that included several players beginning the process of stepping up from the Under- 18s.  Against a Blackpool side featuring several first team players, this was always going to be a difficult and demanding task and the United youngsters showed impressive determination to come through it.

On a weather-ravaged Bloomfield Road pitch, the young Reds struggled to get any sort of passing game together in the first half.  Although United did well to stifle the forward advances of the home side, the wide player were struggling to get forward in support and the Reds' own attacking forays coming to nothing.

Chances continued to be at a premium in the second half but, with Mitchell (right) pushing forward on the left the Reds began to show more penetration and it was little surprise when his work gave United the lead.  The winger cut into the box, his pace leaving his marker for dead, and his short was parried by the Blackpool keeper only into the path of McTominay, who just had to tap in.

Although the game itself wasn't easy on the eye, it offered valuable experience for United's players.  The Reds now face a semi-final against Oldham with the winners to face Everton in the final.