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Freakes is star of the show against Celtic

25/ 1/2007

MANCHESTER Youth conceded their first goal in seven weeks, but they still won comfortably and continue to top the Manchester Youth League under 16s division.

Second in the table are Moston Juniors, also unbeaten and nine points behind the toppers with three matches in hand.

Manchester took on lowly Stalybridge Celtic at Smedley Playing Fields in atrocious conditions.

They started the better and Sam Freakes chipped the keeper only to have his effort ruled out for offside.

Freakes had the ball in the net again soon after, but again offside was the decision. It became third time lucky when Freakes crossed hard and low and saw the ball go in off a defender.

Freakes was also involved in the second goal. He pulled the ball back for Ismet Akoya to drill home.

The pitch worsened following a short, sharp storm, but the referee decided to play on and Manchester made it 3-0 when Jamie Mack rounded a defender and bent a shot into a corner of the net.

Mike Wareham pulled a goal back for Stalybridge early in the second half, but Reeves then wriggled his way past defenders to slide the ball home and round off the scoring.