It looked like our young Blues had secured three points after a fantastic second-half comeback put them into a 3-1 lead. However, a red card for Cesare Casadei seemed to have unsettled Chelsea as we conceded two late goals to draw a game that looked beyond reach of Manchester United.

With Chelsea looking to extend our unbeaten run and the young Red Devils looking for their first victory in the league this season, this afternoon’s fixture was bound to be exciting.

It was not an action-filled first half as the away side controlled a majority of the possession.

The first goal of the contest came when a loose ball in the box fell to Isak Hansen-Arroen who set himself and powered the ball past Eddie Beach. There were more chances as Hansen-Arroen’s shot from distance just went over the bar.

However, the second period was where we showed our form from recent games as we dominated our opponents with an increase in tempo and change in formation.

The first for Chelsea was a nice team goal which resulted in Hutchinson delivering a wicked cross which found the onrushing Lewis Hall at the back post.

The second goal came when a Ben Elliott cross found the head of Casadei as he leapt higher than anyone else in the box to find the back of the net.

We made it three with 10 minutes to go as after only being on for less than a minute, Jude Soonsup-Bell tapped home at the back post after a delightful driven cross from Hall.

A second yellow for Casadei for a high boot seemed to turn the tide as Shola Shoretire scored two identical goals, tapping home from close range to draw his team level.

Elliott and Omari Hutchinson could have found themselves on the scoresheet, but we had to settle for a point despite being in control for most if not all of the second period.

Team news

It was a similar side selected by Robinson to the one that beat West Ham United last weekend. The only change came in defence where captain Bashir Humphreys returned to replace the suspended Josh Brooking.

Quiet half

It was a very low-key first half as the rain poured down at Kingsmeadow. Manchester United controlled the possession without really venturing forward and our young Blues were content to sit in and prevent any openings.

The first real moment of the half for us came when Hutchinson delivered a dangerous cross which left the keeper stranded but Mason Burstow and Dion Rankine who made back-post runs failed to connect.

For all the possession that Manchester United had in the opening 25 minutes of the game, it was our development squad who looked the more threatening.

The moment that it did seem like we were getting some control of the ball, the away side took the lead as Hansen-Arroen picked up a loose ball in the middle of the box, had the time to set himself and fire into the net to give his side the lead.

The lead was almost doubled as a well-worked move ended with the scorer of the first, Hansen-Arroen, sending a shot from just outside box over.

Beach was called into action as he made a fantastic save from a headed effort from Rhys Bennett to ensure the scoreline remained 1-0.

Hutchinson went on a mazy run from just inside our half and found a great pass to Rankine who took a left-footed shot on goal, but he screwed it wide of the goal.

Increase in tempo

After a change in formation for our development squad in the second half, we quickly created our best opening of the game as Rankine delivered an inch-perfect cross which found the head of Elliott, but the midfielder mistimed his header.

The goal our start to the second period deserved came as Hutchinson was at the hub of creation, darting down the right. His cross found an unmarked Hall at the back post to sweep into the net.

From a possession point of view, we were on top and were pulling our opponents apart. The second goal came not too long after the first when Elliott’s cross found Casadei who leapt and guided his header into the bottom corner of the net.

The quicker tempo we were playing at was keeping our opponents pinned as they struggled to show the same control they had in the first half.

Total control

Hutchinson almost added his name to the scoresheet as a marauding run from Hall led to him laying the ball off for Elliott. The midfielder found space to drive into and found the unmarked Hutchinson making a run, but his first-timed shot could only find the side-netting.

Hutchinson was in the thick of the action yet again as he received a pass from Burstow after fine work from Rankine and with only the keeper to beat it was Radek Vitek who came out on top saving well from close range.

Hall turned provider as substitute Soonsup-Bell scored with his first touch of the game tapping home at the back post to give us some breathing room.

Game turned on its head

With our boys in complete control, Casadei was handed a harsh second yellow card for a high boot which means that he will miss the next game.

This seemed to unsettle the team as they attempted to see out the two minutes plus stoppage time that was left in the game.

Shoretire gave the away side what seemed to be a consolation as he tapped into the net from a fired cross into the box.

The unthinkable happened as seconds later, Shoretire again in identical fashion found himself free in the six-yard area to tap into the net again.

We had to settle for a draw despite looking certain to collect three points today.

Nevertheless, our Academy’s draw today means that we now have 13 points, and it moves us closer to the summit of the PL2. It also means that we extend our unbeaten streak to six games.

Chelsea (4-2-3-1): Eddie Beach; Derrick Abu (Leo Castledine 53), Bashir Humphreys (c), Alfie Gilchrist (Charlie Webster 46), Dylan Williams; Lewis Hall, Cesare Casadei, Ben Elliott (Silko Thomas 85); Dion Rankine, Omari Hutchinson, Mason Burstow (Jude Soonsup-Bell 81).

Unused subs: Ted Curd.

Scorers: Lewis Hall 52; Cesare Casadei 58; Jude Soonsup-Bell 82.

Booked: Omari Hutchinson 11; Cesare Casadei 44; Ben Elliott 66; Dyylan Williams 83

Red card: Cesare Casadei 90+1

Manchester United (4-3-3): Radek Vitek, Marc Jurado, Bjorn Hardley (Sam Murray 81), Tyler Fredricson, Rhys Bennett, Toby Collyer (Tom Huddlestone 72), Omari Forson, Charlie Savage (c), Shola Shoretire, Kobbie Mainoo (Charlie McNeil 46), Isak Hansen-Arroen.

Unused subs: Ondrej Mastny, Sam Mather.

Scorers: Isak Hansen-Arroen 26; Shola Shoretire 90+5, 90+6.

Booked: Bjorn Hardley 80; Charlie McNeil 86.