City in seventh heaven after comprehensive Under-18 win over Blackburn

A plethora of goals in the first 45 saw City race ahead after going 1-0 down inside 15 minutes. Floyd Samba scored the equaliser for the Blues before Teddie Lamb sent us in front then Tyrone Samba and Jake Wain added two more as we went in 4-1 up at the break.

The second-half continued with the same momentum as Archie McCoy clawed one back for Rovers as Max Hudson spilled the ball and almost ten minutes later Timeo Whisker forced David Odugun into scoring an own goal at the other end of the pitch.

It was an incredible afternoon for Oliver Reiss’ squad as Kaden Braithwaite added the sixth and Lamb recorded a brace on the stroke of added time.

The action didn’t stop as Valentin Joseph pulled another goal back for Rovers at the death, but it wasn’t enough to stop City from continuing our 100% league start.

What happened in 250 words 

After a positive start for City, it was Rovers who were quickest off the mark. The visitors won a free kick on the edge of the box inside 15 minutes and floated it in towards Michael Decandia with the youngster tapping it home as we trailed a game for the first time in the 2025/26 season. 

But City didn’t let their heads drop and we soon found an equaliser with 24 minutes gone. Teddie Lamb won the ball back in the six yard box, before he crossed it into the path of Floyd Samba to bring us level.

City were absolutely flying, as a long ball to Tyrone Samba was won back by a Rovers defender, but he wasn’t paying attention to his surroundings as Lamb swooped in to send us ahead.

And we added to our goal tally three minutes later when Tyrone Samba joined his brother on the scoresheet with a powerful effort from the edge of the penalty area that nestled in the bottom corner.

As if we hadn’t seen enough action already, Jake Wain netted his first goal for the Blues on the stroke of half-time and we headed in at the break with a three goal advantage. 

City were straight back into the action as the second half resumed with Finlay Gorman’s curling free-kick rattling the woodwork as we looked to add to our already impressive advantage. 

Yet again, Rovers managed to claw one back when the Blues were on top, Archie McCoy lofted a ball towards the back post and Max Hudson was unfortunate to spill it over the line on 58 minutes.

The second half really did continue in the exact same manner as the first, as substitute Timeo Whisker helped us add another goal when he forced David Odugun to turn the ball into his own net.

An in swinging corner from Finlay Gorman found Kaden Braithwaite at the back stick completely unmarked as we added our sixth of the afternoon, before Lamb added a seventh in the final sixty seconds.

Valentin Joseph bagged a consolation for Rovers but the Blues celebrated on the final whistle after a remarkable 7-3 triumph.

It was an absolutely outstanding display from Oliver Reiss’ side as they continued their 100% league start in the Under-18 Premier League North. 

FULL-MATCH REPLAY

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As a result  

City took all three points as we won our third game on the bounce.

We continue to sit at the summit of the U18 Premier League North table. 

Reiss verdict

On the amount of goals scored and first 15 minutes: “[It was a] high scoring game, that’s right, seven goals. It’s nice to see this of course, all together it was okay. At the moment we are struggling a little bit in the first ten, fifteen minutes in the games, always conceding a goal, so the last games we needed a little bit of this to come back stronger, it’s nice to see that we’re able to do this, but altogether I’m happy even when I’m not happy with all of the phases in the game.”

On Teddie Lamb’s performances: “That’s his job. Scoring goals. I’m happy with him of course, but it’s nice to see, again us scoring goals it doesn’t matter who, but when our number nine scores a lot of goals I’m of course happy with him and for him.”

On Blackburn: “Well done to the opponent, conceding three goals is not just mistakes from us, but also they did very well in this situation, but when I think about the last games we’ve conceded too many goals in my opinion, so these are things we have to improve on in the future.”

Teams 

CITY XI | Hudson, Wain (Headley 74’), Drake, Barrett (Tevenan 74’), Braithwaite ©, Miles, Midwood (Dunbar-McDonald 59’), Gorman, Lamb, F. Samba (Whisker 59’), T. Samba 

SUBS | Vickery

BLACKBURN XI | Thompson, Pitt (Wilkinson 80’), Odogun (Eze 80’), Decandia, Kelley-Quinn, Ball, Clanford, Lister (Potter 58’), Joseph, Leatherbarrow, McCoy (Sergeant 66’)

SUBS | Holt

Up next    

We head to the Midlands as we face Wolves with our Under-18 Premier League North action continuing. 

Oliver Reiss’ side come up against the West Midlands side away in a 11:30 (UK) kick-off on Saturday 13 September. Live updates will be available on X: @ManCityAcademy.