Vince Overson with reaction to the Port Vale game
We spoke to youth coach Vince Overson about the 2-1 win over Port Vale in the second round of the Youth Alliance Cup last weekend."The lads are chuffed about the win," he said. "It was good for them and they enjoyed their celebrations afterwards. We keep talking about up and down results but the one thing I was happy about was the fact that they listened to our instructions and carried them out exactly how we asked them to.
"Everybody knew their individual roles, which meant the units played well, and we then played well as a team. We played some great combination football during the first half and we kept the ball for long periods. We're big on possession, obviously the more possession you have the more productive you can be, and the lads used it effectively. The other good point was that we worked very hard to get it back when lost it. That's always nice to see."
"I'm chuffed to bits for Jason [Blackburn] because he works his socks off relentlessly in training and in games," he added. "He was getting a bit anxious about not scoring many goals so we were all delighted when he got one on Saturday.
"Jack Elliott slotted his goal away very well and the combination play in the build up was really eye catching. Jack ran off the shoulder of the defender and Connor Hammell found him with a disguised pass which split the defence. Jack showed great composure and slotted it into the bottom corner, so we were pleased with both goals."
"A cup run is important to everybody so it's great that we're having a little bit of success," he agreed. "I think both changing rooms are pretty happy at this moment in time and that's infectious throughout the club. We won't get carried away and all we'll keep doing is concentrating on the next game. From a youth point of view we're looking for good individual performances and we got that last weekend."
"A cup run is important to everybody so it's great that we're having a little bit of success," he agreed. "I think both changing rooms are pretty happy at this moment in time and that's infectious throughout the club. We won't get carried away and all we'll keep doing is concentrating on the next game. From a youth point of view we're looking for good individual performances and we got that last weekend."
"We've got Doncaster in the third round and we aren't used to playing them," he said. "We won't worry too much about that. I'm sure we'll get a match report but the important thing is what we do on the day. We want the lads to show what they can do so that we get a case for pushing them forward. That is what youth football is all about.
"It's all about consistency. I had a bit of a chuckle the other day because we tell the lads that work rate, desire and commitment have to be consistent so they can earn the right to play. Then you walk into the first team dressing room and it says 'stop the opposition from playing, then play' all over the walls. We have to make sure we're all singing from the same hymn sheet.
"That's the case all the way through football but the young lads have to be aware of the fact they're playing against somebody who is trying to stop them from playing as well. It's a cat and mouse game so it's important they learn the tactical side of the game as well. The fact is you can't play without the ball so you've got to put the effort in to win it in the first place."
"Burnley will be a tough game," he concluded. "I've obviously had a few years experience down there, I think it was just the 22 in total, so we know they'll pass the ball around. They base a lot of their play on possession and passing it around crisply. They try and play through the thirds, which is exactly what we try and do, so it will be an interesting game."
United - Eccles, Rudd (Hurley, 85), Pearson, Taylor, Douglas, Marshall, Quigley, White, Blackburn, Hammell, Elliott (Bradbury, 85). Subs: Fowler, Robson.
Goals - Elliott, Blackburn.
Next up - Burnley v United, Saturday 11 October, kick off 11am
