Norwich City Under-21s were beaten 4-2 by Manchester United's Under-21s at Old Trafford in the Premier League 2.
Four goals from Sam Mather, including a 15-minute hat-trick in the first half, proved enough for the Red Devils to claim the three league points.
Ken Aboh pulled one back late in the first half, as did Adian Manning in the second half, but it would end in defeat.
Alan Neilson made four changes to the team that had beaten Charlton Athletic 4-2 in the Premier League Cup the previous Friday evening.
Dan Barden was back between the sticks in place of Caleb Ansen while Charlie Wilson, Gabriel Forsyth and Elliot Myles were in the team for Joe Duffy, Daniel Ogwuru and Regan Riley.
And Barden didn't waste any time in showing his worth with an excellent save to deny United captain Toby Collyer in the ninth minute.
However, it would take just 90 seconds for a counter-attack to see Mather put the home side in front. He took up a smart position at the back post to volley home James Scanlon's cross.
And it was the left-winger who got the hosts' second too when his 25-yard free-kick flew in off the crossbar in the 20th minute.
He completed his hat-trick after just 26 minutes when he pounced on the rebound after another Barden save.
The Canaries' first chance of substance didn't arrive until after half an hour when Guilherme Montóia's low cross found Aboh - but his touch was deflected away for a corner-kick.
Aboh was the one who pulled a goal back in the final minute of normal time in the first half, cutting back inside and finding the bottom corner.
Pedro Lima could have made it 3-2 in added time but Dermot Mee was down well to his right to make the save.
A triple substitution at the break saw Regan Riley, Finley Welch and Dan Ogwuru all introduced for Norwich.
Forsyth tested his range twice early in the second half. First, from a free-kick out on the right-hand side before cutting in and unleashing an effort across goal but it wouldn't come down quick enough.
However, Mather would get his and United's fourth just before the hour mark with a well-executed curled shot.
Careless passing in the United defence gifted Pedro Lima the chance to make it 4-2 but he was quickly closed down, with Manning tucking away the follow-up.
Aboh had the chance a couple of minutes later to bolster hopes of a comeback but he fired over from a tight angle.
Joe Duffy also tested Mee in the United goal with a volley but the 'keeper was a match for it.
Norwich continued to push but were unable to pull back the deficit any further.
Manchester United Under-21s: Mee; Nolan, Jackson, Aljofree, Murray; Huddlestone, Collyer (C), Hansen-Aaroen (McAllister 89); Scanlon (Missin 60), Mather, Wheatley (Ibragimov 81).
Unused subs: Mantato, Myles
Goals: Mather (11, 20, 26, 59)
Norwich City Under-21s: Barden (Craven 73); McIntosh (Riley h-t), Wilson (C), Renecke, Montóia; Brooke (Welch h-t), Manning, Lima; Myles (Ogwuru h-t), Forsyth (Duffy 63), Aboh.
Goals: Aboh (45), Manning (76)
Bookings: Brooke (19), Montóia (90+3)
HT: 3-1
FT: 4-2
Referee: James Westgate
Venue: Old Trafford