Sale-born Marcus Wood gave City the lead midway through the first half, and Bersant Celina added his name to the scoresheet to make the tie safe and ensure the Us went home empty-handed.
On another day, the young blues might have scored a hatful as they created a plethora of chances, including 19 in the second half alone, and although the visitors battled valiantly this was a thoroughly deserved victory for Jason Wilcox’s youngsters who pressed high and attacked with vigour.
City last lifted the Youth Cup trophy in 2008, and exited last year’s competition at the fifth round stage, courtesy of a 3-1 defeat at the hands of Fulham. Determined to go further this season, City hosted Oxford knowing that a home draw with Coventry awaited the winners.
Jason Wilcox selected a strong side with the headline news being the appearance of Angelino at left back. The Spaniard was on the bench for the first team earlier this month, and alongside Bersant Celina is a regular member of the UEFA Youth League starting line-up.
But while the likes of Brandon Barker, Thierry Ambrose remain eligible for the competition, Wilcox largely kept faith with the young side who are challenging at the top of the u18 Premier League North Division.
Skipper Tosin Adarabioyo partnered Cameron Humphreys at the centre of defence, while Isaac Buckley led the line up top.
It was a cagey affair in the opening stages, with few chances of note. City were utterly dominant in possession and territory, and Aaron Nemane gave his opposite number a torrid time but the final ball was often lacking.
Nemane should perhaps have done better when Buckley fed the ball through the defence but his shot was just wide, while Rodney Kongolo’s effort was easy for Jack Stevens after a nice City move begun by Wood’s driving run through midfield.
In the end it took 26 minutes for City to convert superior possession into the crucial opening goal – Wood stroking the ball home from 12 yards following the cutback from the excellent Nemane on the right.
Celina curled a precise effort narrowly the wrong side of the woodwork, while Isaac Buckley’s shot was deflected over as City sought the second goal their display merited.
At the other end, Charlie Albinson was rarely troubled although he did well to get down quickly and smother the ball at Adriel George’s feet, while the ball whistled someway off target from 25 yards shortly before the half time whistle from the foot of Seth Humphries.
Wood’s goal was the difference between the sides at the break, but the Us emerged from the tunnel stronger and Albinson made a good stop at his near post to prevent Fred Grant from tucking home the equaliser.
Oxford showed their determination but Celina’s class nearly made them pay on the hour mark, when he dribbled neatly past three desperately retreating defenders only to find Stevens in the way, and Buckley could only lift the rebound high into the stand.
Dilrosun was next to test Stevens from distance, and the young keeper had to be alert to push away Angelino’s cheeky attempt from a full 30 yards out.
The young Blues were piling the pressure on their opponents, but the second goal proved elusive despite the continuing multitude of chances.
Nemane switched to the left after the introduction of Paulo Fernandes, but the right back fared no better against his electric pace and he left him dizzy before cutting back for Celina, whose shot ricocheted back off the limb of a defender.
Fernandes stung the palms of Stevens as the minutes ticked by, while Angelino was unlucky to see his effort fly wide after the goalkeeper couldn’t hold onto an increasingly slippery match ball.
City pressed forward again and again in an effort to finally see off the visitors, and it was perhaps fitting that the influential Celina had the final word, finishing with aplomb from inside the box deep into stoppage time.
The 476 fans who braved the north west weather were treated to an exciting attacking display, and City u18s signed off for Christmas in style with a fourth round appearance to look forward to in the New Year.
