Words John Edwards | Pictures Ben Roberts

Altrincham 0 Manchester United u-21s 4

Reviving the first team's fortunes may well be Ruben Amorim's main focus of attention, but Manchester United's new manager will surely be heartened by the calibre of young talent coming through the ranks after their under-21 side proved too good for Altrincham in this National League Cup tie at The J.Davidson Stadium.

Before a tournament record turnout of nearly 4,000 that owed much to the generous backing of AO, whose match sponsorship facilitated free tickets for all, Alty were desperately keen to build on their opening group win over Blackburn Rovers under-21s.

They gave it their all, particularly in the second half, but moments of individual quality, not least from 19-year old Runcorn-born Ethan Ennis, proved decisive.

A direct, fast-raiding right-footed outside-left with an eye for goal, Ennis produced two moments of brilliance to put his side 2-0 up at the interval, and it was no more than he deserved when he completed his hat-trick in the last minute after Amir Ibragimov had made it 3-0 with a close-range finish.

Alty played their part in an entertaining spectacle but could have few complaints at being undone by marksmanship of such a high standard.

There was a setback for the Robins inside the opening 10 minutes when keeper Harvey Randle pulled up after playing a short ball out to a team-mate and, after lengthy treatment, had to give way to young prospect Louie Fallon.

United's youngsters had made most of the running in the early stages without managing to carve out anything resembling a clear-cut scoring opportunity.

All that changed in the 16th minute, after a lightning breakaway launched by Jack Moorhouse led to United deservedly taking the lead.

Showing at least two Alty players a clean pair of heels on a turbo-charged run from the centre circle to the edge of the Alty area, Moorhouse spotted Ennis to his left and unselfishly laid the ball off to him.

The United winger still had plenty to do, but he did it with aplomb as he curled a shot beyond the reach of Fallon and into the top far corner of the Alty net.

Alty's response was to mount their first meaningful attack so far with a move that started with Fallon cleverly and coolly sidestepping an onrushing United player as he ushered the ball towards the edge of his area and played it forward to a team-mate.

When it reached Tylor Golden, the Robins full-back advanced to within shooting range and let fly with an effort that was pushed round the post by diving one-time Alty loanee keeper Dermot Mee.

Lewis Banks then saw a goalbound effort blocked by a defender, but if there was a growing sense of optimism in the Alty ranks, it was soon extinguished by a second United goal in the 26th minute.

Harry Amass burst clear down the right, and when the Robins failed to deal with the resulting low cross, Ennis found the top corner with a carbon copy of his earlier finish.

Kahrel Reddin's pace was evident, not for the first time, in the 32nd minute as the winger sprinted past a challenge and unleashed a rising drive that Mee fielded safely just above his forehead.

James Jones came on for Lewis Baines at the start of the second half, while George Wilson replaced Isaac Marriott, after the fit-again midfielder tucked another useful 45 minutes under his belt, and Alex Newby completed a trio of substitutions at the expense of Justin Donawa.

A rejigged Alty looked sharp on the resumption, though it was United who threatened another goal as Amass fired over after another lively run by Ennis.

The Robins were applying some pressure, and when Reddin set up Newby in the 52nd minute, the midfielder's angled drive was only saved at the second attempt by Mee.

Ennis had his eye on a hat-trick, but when the perfect chance presented itself just before the hour mark, he could only plant a shot straight at Fallon.

Reddin had looked a threat all night, and when he reached the bye-line on the left and crossed to Jake Bickerstaff, the on-loan forward went close with a flick that drifted just wide of the far post.

Newby was next to try his luck for Alty in the 62nd minute, but Mee was equal to it again with a sprawling stop from the Robins attacker's angled effort.

Persistence almost paid off for Bickerstaff in the 67th minute. Crowded out on the left of the area, the Alty striker kept snapping at heels until the ball broke to him for a shot that sailed narrowly wide from the tightest of angles.

Alty were doing their utmost to reduce the arrears and force their way back into contention, but they were undone by a third United goal that had more than a touch of good fortune about it in the 70th minute.

Latching on to a pass from Ibragimov, Victor Musa hit a shot that deflected off an Alty defender and looped high over Fallon before landing on top of the bar.

To Alty's dismay, it then dropped obligingly to the feet of the lurking Ibragimov, who turned it over the line from point-blank range.

Credit where it's due, the Robins kept plugging away and should have had something to show for their efforts in the 82nd minute.

A clever dinked through ball by Elliot Osborne was perfect for Reddin, but the Alty winger fired wide of the far post from an inviting position on the left of the area.

Confirmation it wasn't to be Alty's night came in the 87th minute when Newby drilled a shot wide of the far post from an even more promising position on the right edge of the six-yard box.

It was perhaps fitting that the final word should go to Ennis, who completed his hat-trick in the 90th minute, surging clear into the right side of the area and calmly lifting a shot over the advancing Fallon to stamp the most impressive of marks on what was ultimately an emphatic win.

Harvey Nichols MOTM Elliot Osborne

Altrincham Randle (Fallon, 8'); Banks (E.Jones, 58'), Baines (c) (J.Jones, 46'), Cooper, Osborne, Marriott (Wilson, 46'), Kosylo, Reddin, Golden, Bickerstaff, Donawa (Newby, 46'). Subs not used: Crawford, Nuttall.

Man Utd u21s Mee; Ogunneye (c), Amass, Kingdon, Jackson, Rowe, Mather (Missin, 71'), Moorhouse (McAllister, 58'), Musa (Bradbury, 84'), Ibragimov (Thwaites, 84'), Ennis. Subs not used: Munro, Myles, Kamason.

HT 0-2

Goals None | Ennis 16', 26', 90'+1 Ibragimov 70'

Yellows None | Amass 34', Jackson 85'

Reds None | None

Referee Stuart Morland

Assistants Keiran Forrest & Wayne Gray

Fourth official Matthew Bacon

Attendance 3,663

Next Up

It's a trip to Aldershot Town in the Vanarama National League on Saturday at 3pm.

Buy your tickets at least 48 hours before the game to get them at the cheapest price from our hosts here. If you need away travel, all the info can be found here courtesy of Union Golf Road.