With City already ahead against Marco Silva’s side, the England international then doubled our advantage in quite majestic fashion as he despatched the first of a brilliant brace that night.
After having launched a rapid attack, the ball found its way to the advancing Antoine Semenyo, scorer of City’s first goal, down the left channel.
Semenyo then threaded a perfectly weighted ball through to the onrushing O’Reilly as he powered into the box.
There was still work to do for the Academy graduate, but he showed both superb vision and technique by despatching a precise left footed finish past Fulham keeper Bernd Leno and into the net.
It was a superb effort more than worthy of the coveted prize – and just the latest illustration of O’Reilly’s magnificent impact across the board this term.
O’Reilly saw off a stellar list of contenders to win the award.
Also up for contention were Bernardo Silva’s astute late leveller at Liverpool which set the scene for a dramatic 2-1 turnaround win at Anfield as well as Antoine Semenyo’s close-range finish in a crucial 1-0 league win at Leeds.
From our high-flying women’s side there was Kerolin’s sweetly struck effort in a 6-0 Barclays WSL success at home to Leicester, Aoba Fujino’s smart turn and finish in a 4-0 FA Cup win against Sheffield United and another classy Kerolin effort, this time in our decisive 5-1 home league win against Chelsea.
Ryan McAidoo’s superb solo effort from the acutest of angles in a 3-0 PL2 home win against Nottingham Forest was also on the short-list whilst there were two fine contenders from our Under-18s too – Tyrone Samba’s spectacular right foot curler in a derby clash with Manchester United along with Dante Headley’s eye-catching finish at home to Wolves.
You can watch O’Reilly’s winning effort in the video above...
