A 6-0 victory over Stoke’s Under-18s in last week’s showpiece final was a fitting conclusion to a fine cup programme that saw the City youngsters retain the trophy we had lifted at Middlesbrough 12 months ago in flamboyant fashion.
From an opening 4-1 Group D success against Southampton through to last week’s six-hit special against the Potters at the Academy Stadium, the Under 18 Premier League Cup again brought the very best out of the squad.
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Here, we profile our wonderful run to showcase how the Under-18 Premier League Cup was won:
Group stages:
Sat Sep 28 - City 4-1 Southampton 1
Strikes from Cole Palmer, James McAtee, Oscar Bobb and Sam Edozie helped City get the defence of the Under 18 Premier League Cup off to a flying start at the CFA.
Captain Palmer fired us into a first half lead only for the visitors to draw level.
However, James McAtee struck a superb curling effort in first half injury time to send City in ahead at the break and Taylor’s young charges then upped the tempo in the second half.
Winger Oscar Bobb extended our lead in fine fashion after a thrilling 68th minute run before Sam Edozie set the seal on a fine all-round display with our fourth goal two minutes from time.
Sat Oct 26 - Liverpool 0-4 City
City stepped up our Group D campaign with a magnificent victory away at Liverpool in our second group encounter on Merseyside.
With Gareth Taylor’s side looking to build on our impressive opening group win against Southampton, skipper Cole Palmer fired City into a deserved lead on the stroke of half time.
The Academy youngsters then doubled our advantage seven minutes after the restart through James McAtee.
Alex Robertson’s third goal further confirmed City’s all-round excellence before a Remi Savage own goal set the seal on another fine afternoon’s work.
Sat Nov 23 - City 5-0 Swansea
City rounded off our group campaign in devastating fashion as we booked our quarter-final berth with a five-star display against Swansea at the CFA.
Striker Liam Delap led the line in impressive fashion, securing a first-half brace before skipper Cole Palmer added a third shortly before the half-time break.
There was no resting on our laurels after the break, with substitute James McAtee on target for the third game running and Oscar Bobb then applying the final finishing touch to another impressive showing.
Knockout stages
Sat Jan 25 - U18 PL Cup quarter-final: Brighton 2-3 City
Cole Palmer led by example by scoring a brace as Gareth Taylor’s marched through to the semi-finals with a vibrant display on the South Coast.
The captain scored and missed a penalty at the AMEX Elite Football Performance Centre, where Alex Robertson was also on target for Gareth Taylor’s outfit.
Palmer opened the scoring on 17 minutes just four minutes after Seagulls’ goalkeeper, Fynn Talley, had denied him from 12 yards and showed nerves of steel to take responsibility for and convert our second spot kick as City made a flying start to the second half.
Robertson netted the match winner 16 minutes from time after Brighton’s Lorant Tolag had pulled one back on the hour mark and though he scored again in the 90th minute to set up a nerve-jangling period of added time, City held on to progress.
Sat Feb 15 - U18 PL Cup semi-final: Reading 2-5 City
City overcame the challenge of both a tough Reading side and the best efforts of Storm Dennis to book our place in the Under 18 Premier League Cup final.
The City youngsters made the perfect start, powering into a two-goal lead inside the opening 20 minutes through a Cole Palmer penalty and a Liam Delap strike.
James McAtee then capped a wonderful opening 45 minutes by further stretching our advantage.
The hosts reduced the deficit early after the restart through an Inari Samuels free-kick before City restored our three-goal advantage via Alex Robertson’s cool finish.
And though Melvin Lambert was on target again for the Royals, McAtee set the seal on another fine showing by grabbing his second and City’s fifth with a stunning long-range effort.
Tues, March 9 - U18 PL Cup final: City U18s 6-0 Stoke U18s
City tasted Under 18 Premier League Cup final glory for a second successive season in sparkling fashion as we hit Stoke for six in the final.
After Sam Edozie’s deflected strike gave us a first half lead, a large enthusiastic crowd at the Academy Stadium were treated to a City master class after the break.
Taylor’s side turned on the afterburners as we claimed five goals in 14 minutes.
Liam Delap doubled our advantage with a quite stunning individual effort just past the hour.
And it was fitting that both Cole Palmer and James McAtee – who had been superb throughout our campaign – then both found the target twice to ensure we retained the silverware in thrilling style.
