Heskey hat-trick helps City EDS stay top of PL2

After just two minutes on the pitch, the 16-year-old doubled City’s advantage before bagging a second on 55 minutes.

Those goals, his first in PL2, added to October Player of the Month nominee Emilio Lawrence‘s early strike, before the youngster completed his hat-trick inside 22 minutes of entering the fray.

Striker Will Dickson then scored from close-range, after being set up by Heskey to complete a five-star performance from Ben Wilkinson‘s side.

WHAT HAPPENED

After an EFL Trophy penalty shootout win over Grimsby earlier in the week, high-flying City returned to home soil to welcome the Canaries to Manchester in our latest Premier League 2 assignment.

Oozing confidence from kick-off, Wilkinson’s side got a hold of the ball quickly and gave Norwich no time to settle into the game, switching the ball effectively from left to right.

It gave Charlie Gray a chance to fire an early warning shot, with his attempt rolling wide of the left post on nine minutes.

But just two minutes later City opened the scoring when Lawrence’s audacious run towards the Norwich goal couldn’t be stopped.

The 19-year-old burst free from midway inside the opponent’s half thanks to an incredible change of pace before unleashing a wicked left-footed shot which snuck in at the near post to fire City ahead.

The Blues held that one goal advantage into the break, but the visitors were far from out of the contest.

Indeed, following a brief spell of possession for Norwich, Dan Ogwuru’s floated cross was met by a scissor-kick-like effort by AJ Bridge, which flew high over City’s crossbar.

The Canaries continued to pose a threat as the first half went on. Brandon Forbes’ in-swinging corner 10 minutes before the break might have crept into the top right corner, but Oliver Whatmuff followed the ball’s trajectory well and punched it away.

Another attack from Norwich continued to test City’s back line.

Quick play on the right saw Errol Mundle-Smith played through by former City Academy player Ogwuru, but a daring sliding block by skipper Max Alleyne meant Wilkinson’s side maintained our lead at the break.

But any murmurings of a Norwich comeback were quashed when City were once again quick out the blocks at the start of the second half, even more than they were the first.

Half-time substitute Heskey needed just two minutes to add his name to the scoresheet and provide City with some breathing space.

A corner routine saw Farid Alfa-Ruprecht play the ball to Gray who swung in a cross from deep which fell perfectly to super sub Heskey, who nudged an effort home from the edge of the six-yard box.

The 16-year-old was already in the thick of the action and was presented with another chance minutes later when he picked up possession in Norwich’s third after a misplaced pass, ruthlessly dispatching the opportunity.

Our winger darted towards the Norwich goal and a quick drop of the shoulder towards the right before changing direction instantly to the left gave him space to shoot, with Heskey making no mistake to fire under Tom Finch.

Despite the three-goal advantage, City continued to press for more goals. And after 22 minutes on the pitch, Heskey secured his first-ever Premier League 2 hat-trick.

Keeping the Norwich defenders guessing, this time the 16-year-old cut in onto his right foot.

There was a hint of fortune in the strike, which should have been stopped by Finch but instead deflected off the ‘keepers hands and into the back of the net, but it was just rewards for a memorable night.

And to top off the evening, Dickson made it five in the final attack of the game to see City extend our winning form to seven successive Premier League 2 matches. 

HOW WE LINED UP

Oliver Whatmuff earned another Premier League 2 appearance. And was protected by a defensive line of Lakyle Samuel, captain Max Alleyne, Stephen Mfuni and Josh Wilson-Esbrand.

In midfield, Charlie Gray, Jaden Heskey and Michael Okeke worked hard in City’s engine room.

Will Dickson led City’s attack with Farid Alfa-Ruprecht and Emilio Lawrence providing attacking threat either side.

CITY XI | Whatmuff, Samuel, Alleyne (Braithwaite 83’), Mfuni, Wilson-Esbrand (Naylor 61’), Gray (Oboavwoduo 71’), Alfa-Ruprecht, J. Heskey, Dickson, Okeke, Lawrence (R. Heskey 46’)

SUBS | Hudson.

NORWICH XI | Finch, Gee (Wilson 70’), Mahovo (Okwumo 46’), Tomkinson, Warner, Djedje, Mundle-Smith (Chilvers 82’), Manning, Forbes, Ogwuru (Sealey 70’), Bridge.

SUBS | Wilson, Bullen.  

Live

TUESDAY 5 NOVEMBER: Sporting v City - UEFA Youth League

WHAT IT MEANS

City stay top of the Premier League 2 table with 21 points from eight games.

We’ve won each of our last seven league fixtures since an opening day defeat to Liverpool and have found the net a remarkable 30 times already this season.

UP NEXT

It’s another quick turnaround for our EDS, who travel to Sporting CP on Tuesday 5 November for our latest UEFA Youth League test.

The game kicks off at 13:00 (UK) and is available to watch live on CITY+.