Five-star City beat Boro to extend lead at top of U18 PL table

After an end-to-end, intense affair, City finally found the all-important breakthrough with in-form Kylan Midwood firing home at the back post after a fantastic cross by Christian Dunbar-McDonald from the left.

Dunbar-McDonald then turned from provider to goal scorer, doubling City’s lead just before the break with a fantastic, low finish into the far-right corner.

Teddie Lamb tapped home from close range before Dante Headley added a fourth in what a dominating second half performance by City.

And to complete the perfect afternoon, Finlay Gorman’s composed volley into the bottom-left corner confirmed three vital points as City move six points clear of Manchester United following their defeat to Sunderland and three games left to play. 

WHAT HAPPENED

We welcomed fifth-placed Middlesbrough to a sunny City Football Academy on Saturday afternoon to begin a quadruple matchday for Manchester City.

With City in search of three points in order to maintain our lead at the league summit, Oliver Reiss’ side instantly pushed for an opener.

But that allowed Boro space to counter, and it saw two huge chances for Tyler Smith and Joseph Jones fly just wide of the City goal inside the opening 15 minutes.

City had great chances of our own. Kylan Midwood read a poor back-pass well to leave him one-on-one with the Boro goalkeeper. But Jack Robinson did just enough to deny the City winger with a clear-cut chance to get his shot off on 25 minutes.

Midwood, determined to continue his goalscoring form, would not be denied by Robinson again as he finally found the breakthrough for the Blues.

Unmarked towards the back post, Midwood latched onto Christian Dunbar-McDonald’s cross and fired his half volley back across the face of the Boro goal for his fourth in three games on 31 minutes.

Seven minutes later, Dunbar-McDonald found space to cut inside onto his right foot as he entered the Boro box and dispatched a well-placed effort into the bottom right corner for his 15th of the campaign.

Back out after the break and City looked to extend our lead quickly.

It was a scrappy goal but another on an ever-growing list for Lamb who got his 20th league goal of the season, tapping home from close range after Boro failed to clear their lines on 49 minutes.

Substitute Dante Headley made it four just before the hour, seeing his ranged shot deflected and over the head of Robinson after sustained City pressure.

After joining City in the summer, Freddie Lawrie made his debut at centre-back helping City earn an equally rewarding clean sheet.

City’s final act on 85 minutes saw Finlay Gorman add his name to the scoresheet as Reiss’ side earn another impressive win on home soil and as a result move one step closer to securing back-to-back Under-18 Premier League North titles.

HOW WE LINED UP

CITY XI | Vickery, Wain, Courtman, Drake (Lawrie 74’), Tevenan (Headley 46’), Miles (Obin 79’), Midwood, Gorman, Lamb, T. Samba, Dunbar-McDonald (Cassim 59’).

SUBS | Grigg.  

BORO XI | Robinson, Smith (Turner 65’), Tremain (Moss 84’), Givenson, Cole, Martin, Harrison, Jones (Haselburst 65’), Kakai, Greenup, Roberts.

SUBS | Shaw, Hounsell.

AS A RESULT

City move six point ahead of second-place Manchester United with three games left to play.

UP NEXT

City have a week to prepare for our next league assignment which will see us welcome Derby County to the City Football Academy on Saturday 2 May.

Kick-off is set for 12:00 (UK) with the game available to watch live on CITY+.