City suffer FA Youth Cup final disappointment

Oliver Reiss’s side had made the perfect start in a match played out in front of more than 25,000 fans at Villa Park, roaring into a second minute lead through Matty Warhurst’s fine finish.

However, the hosts levelled within 60 seconds thanks to a TJ Carroll header and went in at the break 2-1 in front after Cole Brannigan had struck with a spectacular 31st minute half volley.

And a third goal from Jamaldeen Jimoh-Aloba midway through the second half further extended Villa’s advantage.

It served to condemn City to a first defeat in 2025 and so end our hopes of recording historic back-to-back FA Youth Cup wins.

What happened

There was a heady air of excitement and anticipation as the action got underway in Birmingham with more than 25,000 fans in attendance at Villa Park creating a superb atmosphere and fitting backdrop.

City set out in pursuit of history as we strove to make it back-to-back FA Youth Cup wins for the first time and secure a fifth crown in total.

Villa meanwhile were seeking to emulate their dramatic semi-final win over Manchester United and lift a fourth FA Youth Cup.

And it was Oliver Reiss’s youngsters who got off to a dream start, taking the lead inside two minutes through Warhurst to stun the hosts.

A clearance by Villa keeper Sam Proctor was intercepted by Harrison Miles who, in turn, played a pinpoint ball into the path of Warhurst who made no mistake from close range.

It was the perfect start for the Blues – however within 60 seconds Villa had drawn level in what was a dramatic and incident-packed opening five minutes.

An in-swinging corner by Cole Brannigan was met by the rising TJ Carroll who evaded the City defence to head home from close range.

Those quickfire strikes encapsulated what was a fast-paced and frenetic first quarter of an hour with the quality shining through.

It was City who were next to threaten on 17 minutes, a fine jinking run down the left flank from Reigan Heskey saw the winger pick out the advancing Christian Dunbar-McDonald driving into the box.

However, his fellow wide man was unable to keep his shot down. 

It then took a fine last-ditch tackle from Villa’s Rodrigo Fortes to deny Heskey as he prepared to shoot having burst into the box on 20 minutes after another superb City counter.

It wasn’t all one-way traffic, however and City keeper Oliver Whatmuff had to be alert to deny Jimoh-Aloba on the half hour after the Villa wide man let fly from 18 yards.

However, a minute later the City keeper was unable to do anything to prevent Villa taking the lead from a stunning Brannigan half volley.

The Villa youngster let fly from 25 yards in spectacular fashion after an initial corner had only partially been cleared.

It was a body blow and the first time we had been behind in the competition all season.

But City almost responded instantly, Warhurst latching onto another poor Villa pass and teeing up McDonald-Dunbar who fired narrowly wide of the target.

Carroll then put his body on the line to block a 41st minute goal-bound Warhurst shot after yet another Villa error as City sought to up the pressure.

It was Villa who threatened first after the restart, Whatmuff producing a magnificent diving save to the left to deny Bradley Burrowes’ stinging shot after a quickfire counter-attack.

With Matty Henderson-Hall on in place of Dunbar-McDoanld at the break, the substitute almost made an instant impact, teeing up Finlay Gorman for a 55th minute shot that fizzed narrowly over.

Gorman tried his luck again two minutes later as Reiss’s troops upped the intensity, forcing a save out of Villa ‘keeper Carroll.

With time ebbing away if felt as through the next goal could be crucial - and in a huge setback it came Villa’s way on 67 minutes through Jimoh-Aloba.

The winger cut in from the left flank before then driving a low shot past Whatmuff and inside the right hand post to extend the hosts’ advantage.

City brought on Floyd Samba and Rhys Thomas in a bid to inspire a comeback with Samba sending a 75th minute header just over.

A frustrating afternoon was then compounded when Warhurst’s goalbound 89th minute effort was cleared off the line by Teddie Bloomfield.

How we lined up

Oliver Whatmuff was the familiar figure in goal and shielded by a back four of Harrison Parker, Kian Noble, Stephen Mfuni and skipper Kaden Braithwaite.

Harrison Miles operated as the Blues’ holding midfielder with Finlay Gorman and Divine Mukasa also in the engine room.

Matty Warhurst was City’s central attacking focal point with Christian Dunbar- McDonald and Reigan Heskey providing the width.

ASTON VILLA: Proctor, Rowe, Fortes (Bloomfield 80), Carroll, Routh, Borland (c), Burrowes (Mulley 94), Hemmings, Cotcher (Jenner 87), Jimoh-Aloba (McWilliams 80), Brannigan (Quinn 71)

Subs: Asemota, Lynskey.

CITY: Whatmuff, Parker, Noble, Mfuni, Braithwaite (c) (Fletcher 80), Miles (Thomas 71), Gorman (Samba 67), Mukasa, Dunbar-McDonald (Henderson-Hall 45), Warhurst, Heskey

Subs: Hudson, Midwood, Drake.

Att: 25, 073

What’s next

Having already claimed the league title last week, City are back in action in the final game of the regular Premier League Under-18 North campaign on Saturday 10 May when we visit Newcastle United.

Kick-off in the North East is slated for 10:30 (UK).