City U18s return to winning ways with ruthless Wolves triumph

After falling to our first defeat in 2026, City’s Under-18s provided the perfect response by scoring inside the opening five minutes through Teddie Lamb before Dante Headley doubled our lead seven minutes later with a fine left-footed finish.

On his return to the starting line-up, Dexter Oliver converted City’s third after a scramble in the box and followed it up quickly with his second of the afternoon to put Oliver Reiss’ side firmly in the driving seat before the half-hour mark.

Lamb made it a five-star first half performance, scoring our fifth after Tyrone Samba’s initial eye-catching shot from distance was parried.

The City number nine couldn’t be stopped. He completed his hat-trick on 47 minutes, firing home from the penalty spot.

Karim Cassim became our fourth goalscorer of the afternoon, with his clinical strike his first Under-18 goal for the Club on 54 minutes.

City controlled play for the rest of the match, seeing out a delightful performance as we continue to lead the North title race.

WHAT HAPPENED

After Saturday’s Manchester derby defeat, Reiss stated he would rotate his team to give fresh faces the chance to make their mark in a competitive Under-18s squad.

And they did just that.

With the return of Xavier Parker, Lamb, Oliver and Oliver Tevenan to our starting line-up, all impressed to help City return to winning ways against a young West Midlands outfit.

And that began with a goal on three minutes from Lamb. On his first start in 2026 following a spell on the sideline, the number nine headed home Tevenan’s cross from the left.

Headley quickly made it two on the 10-minute mark. Similar to his FA Youth Cup goal against Chelsea, the right-back cut inside and found space on the edge of Wolves’ box.

And it allowed him to bend a wonderful left-footed effort past goalkeeper Alfie Arnold at the far post.

Oliver added his name to the scoresheet on 22 minutes, firing home inside the six yard box after Wolves failed to clear a dangerous low cross from the right by Headley.  

The versatile midfielder, who operated on the right wing on Tuesday afternoon, got his second, tapping home Lamb’s pass into the centre of the box as Wolves struggled to keep up with City’s intensity.

16-year-old Lamb got his second of the afternoon, City’s fifth, chasing up Tyrone Samba’s ranged shot which was parried by Wolves shot stopper Arnold, to slide home on 34 minutes to complete a five-star opening 45 minutes. 

Instant impact by half-time substitute Karim Cassim saw the 16-year-old win a penalty after he was barged over by Kwasi Senyah less than two minutes in to the second half.

Lamb converted the spot kick to complete his hat-trick for the perfect return to action with City looking just as hungry for goals as they did in the opening 45 minutes.

Cassim then added his name to the scoresheet, bagging his first-ever Under-18 Premier League North goal, from just inside the Wolves box after a lacklustre clearance of Finlay Gorman’s cross.

With Wolves parked deep within their half for the final half hour, City probed for more goals but couldn’t quite make our way through the orange wall.

At the other end of the pitch, our boys in blue were just as impressive.

We stopped our opponents from registering a single shot on target as we confirmed an impressive 7-0 win to move four points clear at the league summit. 

HOW WE LINED UP

CITY XI | Vickery, Headley, Drake, Barrett (Obin 46’), Tevenan, Miles (Holt 55’), Oliver, Gorman, Lamb (Midwood 60’), X. Parker, T. Samba (Cassim 46’)

SUBS | Grigg.  

WOLVES XI | Arnold, Aneke, Osifo, Stafford, Saba, Abbey, Odour (Pugh 41’), Senyah (Thomas 71’), Wilcox (Ford 62’), Stevens, Anunlopo (Trinder 71’)

SUBS | Jackson.

AS A RESULT

City move four points ahead of second-place Manchester United.

Reiss’ side also still have two games in hand over our title challengers.

UP NEXT

Our focus now shifts to City’s trip to Newcastle for our Under-18 Premier League North clash.

Reiss’ side take on the Magpies on Saturday 21 February, with kick-off scheduled for 11:00 (UK).

The game will be available to watch live on mancity.com and the Official Man City App for fans with a CITY+ subscription, with the stream to start shortly before kick-off.