Inspired U18s score five in Leeds victory

After a dominant first half for City, Matthew Warhurst broke the deadlock two minutes before Alfie Harrison supplied a sublime finish to cap off a fine half.

Lewis Pirie pulled a goal back for Leeds early in the second half, after tapping in a loose ball from a Jack Wint save.

Full backs, Seb Naylor and Ezra Carrington, got onto the scoresheet with exquisite finishes to put City into the driving seat heading into the latter stages of the contest.

Substitute Luca Fletcher was in the right place to score after the ball bounced off the crossbar, before Harvey Vincent scored a consolation late on to round off the scoring.

WHAT HAPPENED

Our under-18s could not have dreamed of a better start to the season, with Ben Wilkinson’s young side coming off the back of two successive 6-0 victories in the league.

We immediately started on the front foot, and played the ball with pace and precision.

But it was the visitors who had the first opportunity of the match. A free kick was swung in, and met the head of Alfie Cresswell, to the relief of the City defence, the ball sailed narrowly over the crossbar.

City responded well to that chance for Leeds. In typical Manchester City style, we pressed Leeds in their own half, and Christian Dunbar-McDonald dispossessed the defender and marched towards goal. Despite all his good efforts, his shot was deflected wide for a corner.

Leeds had their backs to the wall, as City kept flying forward with intensity in the search for the opening goal.

Jaden Heskey cleverly found Alfie Harrison in the six-yard box, he controlled the ball with one touch and fired towards goal with another, but his attempt was saved by the legs of Mahady before being cleared off the line.

We played with the belief that a goal looked to be in our future. 

Ashton Muir found space down the right and delivered a low, pinpoint cross into Harrison, his shot was blocked but Heskey raced onto the loose ball. His shot was blocked too with Leeds proving to be a tough nut to crack.

Dunbar-McDonald was a thorn down The Whites right-hand side, and was unlucky not to end the first half with a goal. The winger had a powered attempt saved smartly, and only minutes later a more tame effort roll into the gloves of Mahady.

The breakthrough eventually came through the inspired Matthew Warhurst, who raced through on goal and he rounded the keeper to have an empty net to roll the ball in to.

Our young outfit were in the mood for more, and only two minutes later, it was two. Muir received the ball in the box and passed it on to Harrison found the bottom corner with a sublime strike to end the half on a high.

The last thing City would have wanted to do is concede early into the second half, but Leeds came out with attacking intent after the break and reduced the deficit on 47 minutes.

Jack Wint did fine to stop an initial shot, but half-time substitute Lewis Pirie ran onto the loose ball to tap in and give the visitors hope.

The Yorkshire outfit had their tails up as Pirie again had the space and time to shoot, but Stephen Mfuni managed to get his body in front of the shot and deflect it wide.

City appear in fine form in front of goal, and after some neat build up play, City regained a two goal advantage.

The ball was passed from right to left, and Seb Naylor had space outside the penalty box to strike, and it met the bottom corner, and gave Mahady no chance to save it.

Two quick goals greeted City again, from one full back to the other, Ezra Carrington raced into the box and fired a shot, high into the net, to put City in firm control.

The goalscoring did not end until the last kick of the game.

Substitute Luca Fletcher was fortunate when the ball was kicked high into the air, it hit the crossbar and fell into path of the striker who placed it to the side of the Leeds goalkeeper.

City switched off late on, as Harvey Vincent was given the room to run in behind our defence, and fire past Wint.

HOW WE LINED UP

Ben Wilkinson selected Jack Wint to start between the posts, and he was protected by a back four of Ezra Carrington, Kian Noble, Stephen Mfuni and Seb Naylor.

Charlie Gray sat in front of the defence, with Alfie Harrison and Jaden Heskey pushing further up in the engine room.

Matthew Warhurst led the attacking line as a sole striker, with Ashton Muir and Christian Dunbar-McDonald supporting closely on the flanks.

Manchester City Under-18s

XI | Wint, Carrington, Noble, Mfuni, Naylor, Gray, Muir, Heskey (C), Warhurst, Harrison, Dunbar-McDonald

Subs | Thomas, Brits, Henderson-Hall, Batty, Fletcher

Leeds Under-18s

XI | Mahady, Richards, Bird, Toulson (C), Cresswell, Lopata-White, McFadden, Chaplin, Brown, Chambers, McDonald

Subs | Grainger, Pirie, Vincent, Billett, Gorman

WHAT IT MEANS

Victory sees us move to second in the table, at the time of writing, after securing maximum points in our opening three games. We are three points behind league leaders Liverpool but have two games in hand.

WHAT’S NEXT

Ben Wilkinson’s side are in league action again next weekend, as we travel to Derby.

Kick-off is scheduled for Saturday 30 September at 12:30 (UK).