The annual cup has been one by generations and generations of Red Devils who have gone on to make the grade in the Premiership and over Europe and have even become full senior internationals. However, this year won't be the youngsters at Old Trafford's turn all because of a single first-half goal scored by Stoke's Martin Patterson.

Rued chances were the main factor of the defeat, with Guiseppe Rossi and Jami Puustinen ruing missed chances.  

Young Finnish forward Puustinen had a golden opportunity to fire in an equalizer in the second half following Patterson's opener, but scuffed his chance and fired into the side-netting. Defender Ryan Shawcross had a header swooped away off the goal-line soon after.

United recently won the cup 2 years ago and failed to maintain it, conceding the silver-wear to Middlesbrough.

United's Team: Crockett, J Evans, Shawcross, Jones, Pique (Simpson 39), Gibson, Martin, Marsh (Campbell 72), Puustinen (S Evans, 83), Rossi, Mullan.