Sam Hewson, the Manchester United captain, scored a late penalty in front of the Kop to secure a 2-1 lead in the first leg of the FA Youth Cup final against Liverpool, the holders.

United, who had fallen behind to Craig Lindfield’s first-half header, fought back impressively to put themselves in control ahead of next week’s second leg at Old Trafford.

United were weakened by the absence of Craig Cathcart, the centre half who had been withdrawn from Paul McGuinness’s squad by Sir Alex Ferguson because of a first-team injury crisis. Liverpool, backed by a crowd of 19,518, took advantage of the uncertainty at the heart of the visiting team’s rearguard by taking the lead after 16 minutes.

Lindfield, who was the leading scorer in last year’s competition with seven goals, beat Ron-Robert Zieler, the United goalkeeper, to head the ball home at the near post, but the goal was down to the skill of Ray Putterill, the winger, whose pace and trickery enabled him to beat Richard Eckersley, the full back, before crossing for Lindfield.

However, Liverpool, coached by Steve Heighway, the club’s former winger, struggled to build on their opener and United fought back into the match. It required misfortune on the part of Robbie Threlfall for United to equalise after 50 minutes, as the centre half directed Danny Galbraith’s cross past Martin Hansen, the goalkeeper, and into his own net.

United then scored a second goal after 74 minutes when Hewson scored his fifth of this season’s competition after Mark Clattenburg, the referee, awarded a penalty for Jay Spearing’s clumsy foul on Febian Brandy.

Liverpool (4-4-2): M Hansen — S Darby, J Spearing, R Threlfall, M Burns — J Ryan, R Flynn, C Barnett, R Putterill — L Woodward (sub: N Eccleston, 68min), C Lindfield. Substitutes not used: D Roberts, S Irwin, S Highdale, B Parsonage.

Manchester United (4-4-2): R-R Zieler — R Eckersley, K Strickland, J Chester, C Evans — D Welbeck, S Hewson, D Drinkwater (sub: A Bryan, 75), D Galbraith — C Fagan, F Brandy. Substitutes not used: G Woods, C McCormack, M James, S Moffat. Booked: Brandy, Eckersley.

Referee: M Clattenburg.

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