Everton were defending with their backs to the wall in the first half, as Seb Jensen in the visitors goal kept City out.
Less than five minutes into the second half, Justin Oboavwoduo curled an effort into the net to give us a deserved lead.
On 67 minutes, Charlie Gray saw a deflected shot make its way past the Everton goalkeeper to double our advantage.
Nico O’Reilly added a third 10 minutes later, through a sensational strike which flew into the net.
Then, Jaden Heskey rounded off the scoring, as he tapped in a spill from Jensen to round off a good afternoon.
WHAT HAPPENED
The confidence in Ben Wilkinson’s side was evident, from the second the referee blew his whistle.
Within four minutes Dan Ogwuru played a neat low pass to Justin Oboavwoduo, but his shot was saved with the outstretched leg of Seb Jensen in the Everton goal, to deny City an early lead.
Leighton Baines’ young side had a plan to be resolute in their defending, and did not allow City to play in behind them.
We were patient in our play, and looked for moments to play around the visitors. As Oboavwoduo raced down the right, but was unsure whether to cross or shoot at goal as the ball rolled to the Everton goalkeeper.
Pressure was building as Ogwuru smartly flicked the ball around his defender and skewed a shot past the post as City stepped up the search for the breakthrough.
The Toffees were causing danger on the counter attack. An inviting cross missed the head of Martin Sherif. The ball reached Daniel Maher, who hit it on the volley, and his shot spun kindly into the palms of True Grant.
Moments later, we were on the attack again. A square ball from Oboavwoduo met Joel Ndala, whose shot was well saved again by Jensen, who was not letting anything past him.
Will Dickson decided to have a shot from outside the 16-yard box. To the frustration of the City camp, it took a deflection and went wide, as we were searching for ways to score past Everton’s stubborn defence.
This time it was Ogwuru again who had a shot, but not for the first time in this half, it was met by Jensen.
Corby Ebere had two late efforts for Everton, both saved low by Grant, as the game was square going into the break.
Our young charges battled into the second half with the same intent to attack the defensive wall of Everton.
But just as passing through the Toffees’ defence seemed to hit a dead end, Oboavwoduo finessed an effort into the top left corner of the net, to break the deadlock.
Confidence grew as Ogwuru rose highest for a header, but it bounded agonisingly wide of the post as City sought a second goal.
However that all important second did arrive through substitute, Charlie Gray, who tried his luck from outside the 16-yard box and saw his deflected shot found its way in.
Just under 10 minutes later, City had learnt their lesson to shoot from range. This time, it was Nico O’Reilly who curled his shot from the right into the far corner, to put Wilkinson’s youngsters home and dry.
City went up another gear as Everton tired, as Jensen made his first error of the afternoon when he spilled a shot, which was pounced on by Jaden Heskey, to round off a fine second half.
HOW WE LINED UP
True Grant returned between the posts, with a back four of Lakyle Samuel, Jahmai Simpson-Pusey, Max Alleyne and Tom Galvez protecting him.
Jacob Wright sat in a deep lying midfield role.
An attacking quartet of Justin Oboavwoduo, Will Dickson, Alfie Harrison and Joel Ndala played behind Dan Ogwuru in the forward positions.
Manchester City Under-18s
XI: Grant, Samuel (Gray 65’), Simpson-Pusey, Alleyne (C), Galvez, Wright, Oboavwoduo, Dickson, Harrison (O’Reilly 46’), Ndala, Ogwuru (Heskey 65’)
Subs: Murray-Jones, Muir
Everton Under-18s
XI: Jensen, Maher, Van Schoor, Jones, Wilson, Samuels-Smith, Beaumont-Clark, Bates, Sherif, Heath, Ebere (Barker 65’)
Subs: Graham, Finney, Foster, Cahill
WHAT IT MEANS
Victory this afternoon moves City 10 points clear of second placed Sunderland in the U18s Premier League North title race.
However, the Wearside outfit have three games in hand, and could move to within one point of us if they were to be victorious in all three.
WHAT’S NEXT
We are back in league action again next weekend when we travel to the Midlands, to face Wolves at the Sir Jack Hayward Training Ground.
Kick off is scheduled for 12:00 (UK).
Then we have a two-week break, before we take on Arsenal in the FA Youth Cup semi-finals.
