A moving minute’s silence was observed in honor of David Bennett, the father of Rhys Bennett, who sadly passed away over the weekend. The United players wore black armbands as a mark of respect.
The first half was largely disjointed, but it featured a standout moment of skill and intensity when Jim Thwaites capitalized on pressure near the edge of the area. The young midfielder intercepted the ball and skillfully passed it to his teammate, Chido Obi, who calmly slotted it past Rochdale goalkeeper Tom Myles, a former member of United’s Academy.
The game’s tempo only heightened sporadically from that point. James Scanlon demonstrated excellent wing play, skillfully lofting an aerial pass over his defender, driving forward, and forcing a solid block from Liam Hogan. Bendito Mantato skillfully controlled a crossfield pass before exhibiting his unpredictable pace and delivering a well-placed cross. Unfortunately, when Mantato’s cross was cleared, Diego Leon’s attempt from distance sailed over the bar.
