What happened...
Manchester City made it 21 matches unbeaten in the U18 Premier League North with a 3-0 victory over Middlesbrough before lifting the title at the Academy Stadium.
Goals from Joe Hardy, Phil Foden and Lorenzo Gonzalez ensured Lee Carsley’s side ended their home schedule in the Northern Premier League with nine wins and two draws.
Hardy scored his customary goal in the first few minutes, cutting in from his left wing position and curling inside the far post.
City dominated the ball from that point and when Foden and Luke Bolton combined on the edge of the box, it was up to the former to volley past Zak Hemmings in the Middlesbrough goal.
It was three shortly before half-time as Gonzalez met Bolton’s drilled cross and scrambled home at the near post.
Carsley made a host of changes in the second half but it didn’t disrupt City’s rhythm as the Blues continued to control the play but despite excellent runs from Will Patching and Bolton in particular, they couldn’t increase their advantage.
View highlights from the Youth Cup thrashing of Southampton below...
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What it means...
City have an unassailable lead at the top of the north section of the Under-18 Premier League, with 55 points from 21 games.
Key moment...
As Joe Hardy’s quick feet took him past Middlesbrough defender Kieran Storey, all the Teessiders could do was appeal for handball in hope before they watched his clinical finish put City one up.
Man of the match...
Phil Foden - Equally capable of weaving past his man or allowing the ball to do the work, Foden struck up an excellent relationship with winger Bolton early in this match.
It allowed City to find a number of routes through their opponents, namely for the England midfielder’s excellent first half strike.
How they lined up...
Tom Scott made his first start of the season in goal for City.
Colin Rosler started at right-back with Joel Latibeaudiere and Joe Coveney in the centre and Tyreke Wilson at left-back.
Iker Pozo sat at the base of the midfield behind Will Patching and Phil Foden while Luke Bolton and Joe Hardy flanked central striker Lorenzo Gonzalez.
