U18s Coach Jimmy Unwin reflected positively on both United’s U18s FA Youth Cup progression and the attractive manner of the victory against AFC Guiseley last night.
Three goals from Glenn McConnell and the other from Nathan Braithwaite saw the U’s comfortably dispatch the visitors to the Abbey 4-0, booking their place in the Third Round where they will face either Sunderland or AFC Fylde on home soil.
Speaking post-match, Unwin said: “Firstly it was all about getting the job done and the boys certainly did that. Over the 90 minutes, we deserved to win even when the game was 11 v 11, I always felt we were on top for good spells. We took our first two goals really well, with U16 Glenn McConnell finishing both with a pair of good strikes.
“We were in a commanding role in that first half and then the sending off killed the game as a spectacle from there if I was being honest. But we’re pleased to be through which is the main thing.”
The nature of United’s win, with the young U’s dominating from virtually the first whistle to the last which caused the visitors issues all evening, was an example of the attractive style of football that Unwin says the coaching staff highly encourage to players
“I was pleased that it was an enjoyable game to watch because we want to be pleasing on the eye. We have good youngsters at this Football Club and we want to see them progress, and to do that we want them to be on the ball as much as possible and impose ourselves onto games.
“I’m a possession based coach and I like the boys to play football, rather than play longer or play in areas, we want to play through the midfield as much as we can. We have some very good technical players, so it would be a travesty if we played long and a playing style that didn’t suit the boys that we have got within the team. So we always look to play as much as we can, and encourage the boys to be comfortable with the ball at their feet.”
He continued: “When those that make it to the first team, we want them to get there with the ability to play in whatever playing style the manager decides he wants the team to play and of course contribute towards winning games.
“In youth football, because it’s not always solely dependent on results, it does mean you can develop the players to take more risks and play a more attractive style of football at times.”