Derby day delight for City's Under-18s

Oliver Reiss’s team controlled the game from the outset. Ryan McAidoo put City ahead after 21 minutes, placing the ball past Will Murdock after a pinpoint pass from Finlay Gorman.

City accelerated into a bigger lead in the second half, as Reigan Heskey tapped in our second before Stephen Mfuni powered in a header from a corner.

Substitute Luca Fletcher rounded off the scoring with a shot across the keeper as City extended their winning run to 12 matches and inflicted the first league defeat of the season on our Manchester neighbours.

WHAT HAPPENED

After a wreath was laid in memory of the Munich Air Disaster ahead of its anniversary on 6 February 1958, today’s match looked to be a tough assignment for Reiss and his team, as they faced Manchester United in a top-of-the-table clash.

It was the home team that carved open the first opportunity, after they played through City’s press and Chidozie Obi was played in behind. He squared the ball across to James Scanlon who powered his shot onto the crossbar.

It was a warning shot which sparked City into action. 

The first chance for City came moments later through Finlay Gorman, after the ball was cushioned into him by Divine Mukasa, but his shot rolled into the palms of Murdock.

Scanlon was through again after dribbling past City’s defenders, but his deflected shot was comfortable for Max Hudson.

Rhys Thomas won the ball back in the middle of the park, and played it to Gorman who played a pass in behind United’s defence for McAidoo to direct past Murdock and give City the advantage in the derby with a clinical first-time finish. 

Lovely interchanging play between Gorman, Thomas and Matty Warhurst, saw the latter find space to shoot but the striker’s attempt was too soft and easily picked up by Murdock.

City did well to maintain our advantage at the break after what was a thrilling opening 45 minutes. 

A fast start to the second half saw City catch United off guard.

As a team, City’s press forced United into giving the ball away, and McAidoo dribbled down the right with the ball before sliding a pass across to Heskey who tapped into an empty net.

In a bid to get back into the match, Harry Amass delivered a ball that met Obi’s head, but the striker could only direct the ball wide of Hudson’s post.

Another strong City press led to Thomas playing through McAidoo, but he was denied a brace after his shot was tipped over by Murdock.

The young Red Devils threatened to get back into the match and nearly pulled one back if not for a goal line  clearance from Harrison Parker to deny Tyler Fletcher’s shot from six yards out.

City were firmly in the driving seat when Mukasa whipped in a corner to the back post where Mfuni rose highest to head in past Murdock at the back post. 

There were no signs of slowing down either, as Warhurst was played through, but his shot was saved low by the United shot stopper.

Impact substitutes Christian Dunbar-McDonald and Fletcher found the fourth and final goal of the game with the former teeing up Fletcher who was his low effort fly into the bottom left corner.

Reiss’s side continued to show fight but this time to maintain the clean sheet and confirm all three points in one of the most impressive performances from our Under-18s this season. 

HOW WE LINED UP

Reiss selected Max Hudson to start in between the posts, with a back four of Matty Henderson-Hall, Harrison Parker, Kian Noble and Stephen Mfuni protecting him.

Rhys Thomas sat in front of the defence, with Finlay Gorman and Divine Mukasa playing further in front in a midfield trio.

Ryan McAdioo and Reigan Heskey were positioned of the wings supporting Matty Warhurst who led the line.

MAN UTD XI | Murdock, Kamason, Munro (C), Armer, Fletcher, Musa, Fitzgerald, Obi, Thwaites (Bailey 81’), Scanlon (Kukonki 69’)

SUBS | Miles, Byrne-Hughes, Plunkett. 

CITY XI | Hudson, Henderson-Hall, Parker, Noble, Mfuni, Thomas (C) (Miles 77’), McAidoo (Dunbar-McDonald 72’), Gorman, Warhurst (Fletcher 72’), Mukasa, Heskey

SUBS | Grigg, Headley.

WHAT IT MEANS

A crucial three points for City means we extend the lead on our Manchester rivals to four points, but United have two games in hand over us.

City sit on 37 points, and recorded a 12th consecutive victory in the league, since a 2-0 defeat to today’s opponents back in August.

WHAT’S NEXT

City have a break from Under-18s Premier League North action in mid week, as they travel to West Yorkshire to face Leeds United in the fifth round of the FA Youth Cup at the LNER Stadium.

Kick-off is scheduled for 19:00 (UK) on Tuesday 4 February and CITY+ subscribers residing in the UK will be able to watch every kick of the game live.