PICTURES

WEBMASTER'S COMMENT

"Alex Ferguson opted once again for youth in the Worthington Cup against a very brave Bury side. For a side like Bury to come to Old Trafford and take the game to extra-time is something, even if United played a reserve side."

MATCH REPORT

By David Anderson, PA Sport

It took a superb strike from Ole Solskjaer, and another from his Norwegian countryman Erik Nevland to force United into the last 16 of the Worthington Cup. They now face Nottingham Forest, but they won't forget the magnificent performance by the men from Gigg Lane.

It does not matter that United fielded a shadow side, full of kids and squad players. Bury deserved their standing ovation for a spirited, battling display. United always put in the squad men for these games, and they've suffered defeats by York and Ipswich in recent years. But whoever they turn out they don't enjoy being made to look red faced in any competition.

There was no Schmeichel, Giggs, Beckham, Scholes, Yorke, Cole, Stam, Keane etc, but the seemingly bottomless pit of talent at United was clear. United fielded only Phil Neville from the side that drew at Derby, much to the delight, no doubt, of his delighted parents in the directors' box who are commercial manager and secretary of the Gigg Lane outfit.

They would clearly also be delighted with the near £500,000 that Bury will pick up from their share of this gate, far more than the First Division club's entire home gate receipts for last season which were under £400,000. In for his debut was 19 year-old reserve top scorer Jonathan Greening, while midfielder Mark Wilson started his first senior game for United, having got on as substitute in Copenhagen against Brondby last week.

David May played his first game of the season, while Henning Berg skippered United, with half the side teenagers. Bury, who brought 9,000 fans with them across the city, were intent, and clearly capable, of making life difficult for Ferguson's unfamiliar line-up.

They were organised and workmanlike, and keen to make use of every set piece and corner that came their way. United looked to Jordi Cruyff and Ole Solskjaer to give them the edge, but it was young Wilson who produced their only shot of the opening stages when he lashed a dipping 20 yarder over the bar after 16 minutes.

Greening's confidence grew and after 23 minutes displayed neat close control to go round Chris Swailes in the box to fire in a cross-shot that Dean Kiely held at the second attempt. Bury tested Raimond van der Gouw with a header from Tony Ellis, and then Lennie Johnrose hooked a volley wide from the edge of the box.

Greening was looking increasingly dangerous and after 29 minutes another clever piece of control in the box took him into a shooting position, and his angled chip was headed inches wide of his own post by former Manchester City skipper Steve Redmond. Keily, who was in the York side that beat United in this competition in '95, needed two attempts to block a searing Solskjaer drive after 32 minutes.

United brought on Norwegian striker Erik Nevland at the break for Irish international Phil Mulryne and he should have scored after 53 minutes when he scuffed a good chance in the box after excellent build-up work from Greening and Wilson. Bury brought on Andy Preece for Laurent D'Jaffo and Lutel James for Tony Ellis as the visitors sought to spice up their attack and go for the result that would make them famous.

On 69 minutes, Ferguson brought on Paul Scholes and Wes Brown for Wilson and Clegg to try to break the deadlock. Bury had defended manfully, and continued to break out looking for their own breakthrough, but United increased the tempo with Scholes trying his hardest to kill off Neil Warnock's brave side. But as the rain lashed down, Bury held out to take the game into an extra half hour.

Kiely was forced into excellent saves from Scholes and Solskjaer and then Johnrose blocked a drive from Greening in the box as United fought to settle the issue in the first period of extra time. Then Brown worked himself space on the edge of the box and drove a fine shot fractionally wide as United piled on the pressure. But they were still able to cause United concern at the back and James curled a fine long range shot just over the angle.

The United breakthrough finally came in that 106th minute when Solskjaer found a rare yard of space among Bury's battling defenders to drive his shot in off the post from 18 yards.

Greening could have really finished it off three minutes later when he struck a post after jinking his way round two defenders. Four minutes from the end it was all over when Nevland arrived at the far post to force home Brown's cross, Bury by now committing men forward in a desperate bid to force penalties.

POST MATCH REACTIONS

Alex Ferguson hailed Bury's brave display at Old Trafford and said: "The most important thing for them was the cheque." Bury picked up around £500,000 as their share of the receipts from a 52,000 crowd for their 2-0 extra time Worthington Cup third round defeat. United needed extra time goals from Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Erik Nevland to ended Bury's brave resistance.

But Ferguson insisted: "We deserved to get through in the end. This competition allows me to put in the kids and the fringe players. Our youngsters started well, but it became a bit of a slog towards the end. We expected Bury to play like that, with men behind the ball, and they were camped in their own box at times.

"Bury did well. Their 'keeper Dean Keily had a fine game and everything stuck for him. They didn't disgrace themselves and played admirably, but they didn't do anything that made my heart stop."

Bury boss Neil Warnock said: "I'm proud of my lads. They did everything asked of them and more. They are knackered now, but they have worked their socks off and done the fans proud.

"We played to the best of our ability, even if United put out so many reserves. But it's some reserve side, isn't it - not bad for fringe players. I looked at the internationals on their bench and just hoped they didn't put too many of them on. They're obviously better than us technically, but we worked so hard and did everything that we could."

TEAMS

Manchester United: Van Der Gouw, May, P Neville, Curtis, Berg, Clegg, Wilson, Greening, Cruyff, Mulryne, Solskjaer.
Subs: Scholes for Wilson, Nevland for Mulryne, Brown for Clegg.
Scorers: Solskjaer (106), Nevland (115)

Bury: Kiely, Woodward, Barrick, Daws, Lucketti, Redmond, Swailes, Patterson, D'Jaffo, Johnrose, Ellis.
Subs: Matthews for Patterson, James for Ellis, Preece for D'Jaffo.

Referee: