City see off Derby to become U18s Premier League North winners

Derby went into a two-goal lead with Owen Eames breaking the deadlock after knocking the ball between Oliver Whatmuff’s legs, before Demaine Agustien fired a rocket into the top corner to put City on the back foot in the first-half.

But Finlay Gorman reduced the deficit for City after he tapped in from close range, and half-time, substitute, Ryan McAidoo, matched Agustien’s goal with a thunderous strike of his own to square proceedings.

Matty Warhurst was in the right place at the right time at the back post to smash in the goal to hand City the lead before Tristan Gill broke City hearts by tapping in from a corner to make it 3-3.

In the dying embers of the match, Warhurst made Derby pay for giving the ball away outside of the penalty area, as his turn and snapshot hit the back of the net to score the Under-18s Premier League North title winning goal.

WHAT HAPPENED

The visitors kicked off the match with Oliver Reiss’s team knowing that victory this afternoon would hand City the Under-18s Premier League North title, only if United dropped points at fourth-placed Everton.

It was a tough assignment ahead for our academy outfit, who faced an in-form Derby County side sat in third-place and the midlands team started off the better.

After overcoming the early pressure, Harrison Miles had the first sight of goal, after a clearance from a corner found our no.6, but his shot went straight at Derby shot stopper, Harley Price.

City continued to push hard for the opener, but Derby’s defence remained resilient and were proving to be a threat on the counter attack, and on 27 minutes, we were made to pay.

Owen Eames raced the entire length of the City half, evading challenges along the way, and his initial shot was blocked, but it rebounded favourably to the young Ram who squeezed the ball under Oliver Whatmuff’s legs.

The lead was arguably against the run of play, but moments later Christian Dunbar-McDonald looked to respond, but after creating space for himself to shoot on the left, his shot was bravely blocked.

As City continued to press for the equaliser, a free-kick was swung in by Gorman and the ball rebounded to Kian Noble whose effort flew over the bar from a few yards out, to the frustration of the defender.

Five minutes before half-time, Derby extended their lead with a thunderous strike from Demiane Agustien after he was allowed time and arrowed a pinpoint shot into the top right corner, meaning City had a mountain to climb.

The Reiss’s young Blues responded quickly though!

After neat, intricate build up play in Derby’s defensive third, Warhurst tried to beat Harley Price from the edge of the box with a curling effort, but the keeper’s save rebounded to Gorman who was in the right place to tap in via the post.

Buoyed by the goal, City were on the attack again and this time it was Dunbar-McDonald again who cut inside and drilled a low effort which beat Price, but was cleared off the line by a Derby shirt.

City charged out the gates in the second half with substitute Ryan McAidoo adding extra pace to the game on the right. 

From a corner, Noble teed up Floyd Samba, but the midfielder’s effort was straight at the Derby keeper as City continued to knock on the door.

The equaliser was in our future however, as McAidoo received the ball in the penalty area, he knocked it on before shaping to shoot and finding the top left corner to the delight of the City squad.

The visitors were still causing trouble to City’s backline, as Johnson Song had a deflected effort denied by Whatmuff whose brilliant reactions kept the ball out the net.

Pushing for the goal to put us ahead, Warhurst stretched to attempt to meet Gorman’s cross, but his touch took it away from him and the striker half volleyed over the bar.

Moments later, McAidoo dribbled expertly well with his feet around a number of defenders and the keeper, but a Derby defender kept the ball out before it reached Warhurst who smashed in from close range.

The City bench and players were encouraging each other for a tense final 10 minutes.

From a free-kick there was a huddle of players trying to get a touch on the ball, but it landed to Derby’s Tristan Gill, who managed to get a touch to find the back of the net and make it 3-3 to City’s despair.

As the match went into added time, and it looked like City’s title celebrations would be delayed, but after Derby gifted City the ball around their penalty area, Warhurst, who had his back to goal, turned and his snapshot arrowed into the bottom right corner, which brought the City bench to their feet.

City survived a final onslaught from the Rams for the remainder of injury time and recorded another win to become Under-18 Premier League North winners.

HOW WE LINED UP

Oliver Reiss selected Oliver Whatmuff to start in between the sticks, with a back four of Harrison Parker, Kian Noble, Stephen Mfuni and captain Kaden Braithwaite.

Harrison Miles was accompanied by Finlay Gorman and Floyd Samba in the engine room. 

Striker Matty Warhurst led the line with Kylan Midwood and Christian Dunbar-McDonald supporting on the wings.

CITY XI | Whatmuff, Parker, Noble, Mfuni, Braithwaite (C), Miles, Midwood (56’ McAidoo), Gorman (96’ Fapetu), Warhurst, F. Samba (96’ Drake), Dunbar-McDonald (73’ Fletcher)

UNUSED SUBS | Hudson

DERBY XI | Price, Eames, Stokes (54’ Green), Marriott, Tola, Gill (C), Smith (61’ Song), Gustier, Ebuka, Allen, Oguntolu (73’ Griffiths)

UNUSED SUBS | Doyle, Hardy

WHAT IT MEANS

Our 21st successive win means City have become Under-18s Premier League North winners following Everton holding nearest challengers Manchester United to a draw earlier in the day.

We sit on 64 points which is the record highest points tally since the 2013/14 season and beating last season’s record of 62 points from Manchester United.

Premier League U18

		Team		P	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts	Form
1			Manchester City Man City	24	21	2	1	90	20	70	65	WWWWD
2			Manchester United Man United	24	20	3	1	90	24	66	63	WWDWW
3			Everton Everton	24	14	4	6	55	47	8	46	WLDDW

WHAT’S NEXT

It’s FA Youth Cup Final day for our academy in our next match. Oliver Reiss’s side will travel to Birmingham to play Aston Villa at Villa Park.

Kick-off is scheduled for 15:00 (UK) on Monday 5 May.

Our final Under-18 Premier League North clash at Newcastle will be moved to an alternative date and time.

Next Fixture

All fixtures

Mon 05 May

FA Youth Cup

Aston Villa

15:00

BST

Man City