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Manchester United Under-18s took on Middlesbrough Under-18s on Saturday afternoon at Carrington.

Darren Fletcher’s side were aiming to carry forward their impressive run, having come into the fixture on the back of successive 3-0 wins.

Fletcher went with the same starting XI that had featured in the midweek cup victory over Charlton.

United were on top from the opening whistle, although the visitors defended with discipline and left very little room for the home side to operate in the final third.

Midway through the first half, Junior Brown pulled the ball back to Jaume Camacho on the edge of the area, but it was just beyond the Spaniard’s reach. His stretched touch diverted the ball into the path of Jay McEvoy, who connected superbly from 25 yards and sent it into the bottom-right corner.

Edson Dejonge-Seiros then started to enjoy more success down the left flank and nearly registered an assist when his delivery picked out Brown at the far post, only for the right winger’s effort to be kept out by Dwain Bernard.

United continued to apply pressure and made it 2-0 in the 31st minute through an own goal. Camron Mpofu’s miscued strike was blocked up into the air, and Middlesbrough’s defence then suffered a moment of confusion as an attempted header back to the goalkeeper came off Bernard’s head and ended up in the net.

Dejonge-Seiros added United’s third before half-time, turning smartly on the edge of the box and driving a shot into the bottom-right corner after being picked out by Yuel Helafu.

The young Red Devils forced another error from the Middlesbrough defence soon after the restart, as a short back pass to the goalkeeper was cut out by Mpofu, who was then brought down by Bernard to win a penalty. Mpofu took the kick himself and calmly slotted it into the right corner for his first goal of the season.

The Scotland youth international found the net again four minutes later, but a debatable offside decision meant the goal did not stand after Mpofu tucked away the rebound from McEvoy’s free-kick.

Middlesbrough fashioned a rare opening later in the half, but Charlie Hardy produced a firm save with his right foot to deny the effort at the near post.

Substitute Douka Nkoto completed the scoring in the 90th minute, finishing at the back post from Emmanuel Ziro’s cross to seal a 5-0 win.

United’s Under-18s return to action next Saturday when they travel to Newcastle.

United: Hardy, Helafu (Nganga 67), McCormack (C), Ngwashi (Emsden-James 67), J. Watson, McEvoy, Shah, Brown (D. Nkoto 73), Camacho, Dejonge-Seiros (Ziro 59), Mpofu (Carrick 59)

Unused subs: Z. Watson, Laurie

Goals: McEvoy 23, Own goal 31, Dejonge-Seiros 42, Mpofu (p) 47, D. Nkoto 90