Classy City celebrate in style as Under-18s claim big victory

Hattricks from Will Dickson and Nico O’Reilly, and braces from Carlos Borges and Josh Adam were accompanied by goals from Kian Breckin, Dire Mebude and Matty Whiitingham to give us an impressive win.

Celebrations continued afterwards, as City were awarded the Under-18s Premier League North title.

WHAT HAPPENED

City started the game on the front foot as we pushed our visitors back with force and we didn’t have to wait long for the opener.

Kian Breckin got the ball in the box and hit a precise shot into the back of the net to get our breakthrough within five minutes.

Just a few minutes later, Will Dickson doubled our advantage as a great run and squared cross from Borges found our number nine, who hit a fine snapshot past Steven Bessent.

Our Academy outfit were on fire, as another cross from Borges was deflected onto the cross bar by a Newcastle clearance, and ball fell to O’Reilly, who was in the right place at the right time to head in the third.

After further pressure applied to the Toon defence, nice feet work by Dickson got him free in the box, his fierce hit was blocked but flowed into the path off Borges who tapped in from a tight angle.

Borges was having a star performance, and it wasn’t long before he grabbed his brace when his shot from the middle of the box, was smashed in to get the Young Blues our fifth.

Newcastle created their first opportunity through a free kick, but we got into their half again in no time where O’Reilly managed to get his brace.

As half time beckoned, we were still in the Newcastle half and Josh Adam had the time to pick up the ball and finessed the ball into the far corner.

Into the second half, our momentum didn’t flounder, as Dire Mebude wrapped up a hattrick of assists as he pinpoint low cross was tapped in by Dickson who got his second in the match.

Newcastle pushed more forward as the half went on, but this opened space at the back, which Mebude exploited.

A great run got him away from the Newcastle defence before he cut inside and flicked it into the net for our nineth.

We were in our rhythm again, as another cross by the substitute, Liam Smith, met Dickson who rocketed in his hattrick and put our score to double figures.

There was only more waves of City attack, as Adam imitated his first goal as he dribbled on the edge of the box, before picking out the top corner with another curling effort to clinch his brace.

Only five minutes later, we were awarded a free kick, which Matty Whittingham executed with pinpoint accuracy, as it bounced off the crossbar and into Bessent’s goal.

City were attacking till the end, as Adam laid the ball off delicately to O’Reilly who powered in his hattrick.

That was the end of the scoring at the City of Football Academy as the players were awarded the trophy following the game.

HOW WE LINED UP

Ben Wilkinson chose Josh McNamara to start in goal, with a back four of Luca Barrington, Isaac Smith, Jadel Katongo and Matty Whittingham in front of him.

An attacking midfield three of Kian Breckin, Josh Adam and Nico O’Reilly was accompanied by a front three of Dire Mebude, Will Dickson and Carlos Borges.

Manchester City Under-18s

Starting XI: McNamara; Barrington, I Smith, Katongo, Whittingham, Breckin (C), Adam, O’Reilly, Mebude, Dickson, Borges

Subs: Murray-Jones, Alleyne, Sodje, Ogwuru, L Smith

Newcastle United Under-18s

Starting XI: Bessent; McNally, Charlton, J Miley, Powell, Stewart, Bradbury, Stanton, L Miley, Huntley, Crossley

Subs: Mavididi, Harris, Parkinson, Emerson, Bailey

UP NEXT

Next up, we travel up to Burnley to play our rearranged fixture which was previously called off for bad weather.

Kick off is scheduled for Tuesday at 13:00 (UK).