HARTLEPOOL United's youth team last night lined up a potential glamour clash with Manchester United.

The youth team - coach by formrer Sunderland favourite Martin Scott secured a memorable 2-1 victory over Crystal Palace in the fourth round of the FA Youth Cup.

And Pool - now the only North-East team left in the competition will meet the winners of tonight's tie between Birmingham and the Premiership giants in round five.

Tony Sweeney and Colin McKenzie secured the win, against a Palace side featuring three England youth internationals.

McKenzie, who has only just returned from a placement with UniBond League side Gateshead struck the winner with seconds remaining.

Pool went a goal behind in the first-half, and Scott's side had three players booked in the opening period, two of them following a full-scale brawl which also saw a home player cautioned. McKenzie's winner came when he drilled home a shot from the edge of the area as extra-time loomed.

Pool chief Chris Turner was delighted with the outcome. "I think it's a fantastic achivement,'' he said. "For us to play against a club with Academy status and beat them away is brilliant. But we did it with Stoke as well, so it shows what we are capable of doing.

"And it is a tribute to Martin and shows the work he is doing with the young players.''

Pool: Duncan, Watts, Brackstone, Dixon, Craddock, Batey, Peachey, McKenzie, Sweeney (capt), Manson, Robson Subs : Pearson, Oldroyd, Flockett, Richards, Winter

* Garry Flitcroft looks certain to miss the Worthington Cup final after seeing red on a night when Blackburn Rovers sealed a place in their first major final for 42 years.

Flitcroft was given his marching orders for a reckless two-footed lunge on Sheffield Wednesday skipper Trond Egil Soltvedt and faces a three-match ban including the February 24 date at the Millennium Stadium. Rovers, though, were already two goals to the good on the night courtesy of first-half strikes from Matt Jansen and Damien Duff, before an Efan Ekoku penalty gave the Owls hope. However goals by Andy Cole and Craig Hignett secured the tie for Rovers.