In our first match since being crowned champions for a second successive year in midweek, our youngsters turned on the style against the Magpies to maintain our unbeaten home record in our final match of the season at the City Football Academy.
Our U18s will hope to maintain that incredible form when we round off the campaign with away fixtures against Burnley and Sunderland on Tuesday 3 May and Saturday 7 May.
And although back-to-back league titles have already been confirmed, Wilkinson is hoping his players can continue our fine form ahead of a National final against our U18 Premier League South counterparts.
“It was a great way for the lads to celebrate, it was nice to win it and get the trophy on home soil rather than being away, so it’s been a great day for us,” the U18s boss reflected following our victory over Newcastle.
“It’s also been a great 24 hours with the Elite Development Squad last night (lifting the Premier League 2 title), so hopefully we can go and finish the season off now and get another one.
“I think we can be really pleased in terms of the development and improvement in performances, the work ethic the players have shown throughout the year and the commitment to the style we expect them to play in.
“It would be really nice if we can cap it off by getting over the line in these last two or three games and ultimately win the National final”.
Our youngsters will face one of Southampton or West Ham U18s in the National final, as the two sides go head-to-head for the Southern title.
City are aiming to secure back-to-back National titles, with goals from Sam Edozie, Carlos Borges and Oscar Bobb were enough to see City run out 3-1 winners in last season’s final against Fulham.
And Wilkinson insists his players are under no illusions that they need to continue giving their all in matches and on the training pitch if they want to make that ambition a reality.
He explained: “We’ve got a game on Tuesday (against Burnley) and a game on Saturday (against Sunderland) so it’s quite easy to tick us over throughout the week.
“Ultimately, the lads are desperate to play in that final and not everyone can play.
“They know they have to be right at it in games and training and keep their standards high to have a chance of playing in the final and try and get over the line in that game”.
