Michael Okeke‘s was at the centre of everything in the opening 45 minutes which saw the midfielder scored two goals in three minutes. His first coming just before the half hour mark before netting his second moments later.
Harrison was also in the mood for goals and the first two of his three goals came shortly after, Ashton Muir the architect for his first as his fantastic backheel found him in the box before a lovely one-two with Seb Naylor saw City lead 4-0 at the break.
Okeke was brought down just before the hour mark leaving Harrison with the task of converting the penalty which in-turn sealed his hat-trick. Justin Oboavwoduo rounded off the scoring in the final minute of the game with a stunning right-footed effort.
WHAT HAPPENED
Farid Alfa-Ruprecht was a constant threat down the right for City and his clipped cross to Muir almost saw us score the first goal of the game, but the left winger rattled his shot off the crossbar.
Our pressure would pay off after Muir’s cross found Okeke on the penalty spot who was there to guide the ball into the bottom-right corner of Solomon Honor’s goal.
Okeke would have his and City’s second moments later, he picked a loose ball up inside the Rovers half before letting fly from 20-yards out and doubling our advantage.
His midfield partner Harrison netted the first of his two first-half goals after a backheel from Muir found the City No.10 in the area before firing home.
Three minutes before the break we had our fourth after some fantastic football by City’s youngsters, a one-two between Naylor and Harrison saw the latter put through on goal before rolling the ball into the back of the net.
The City pair were at it again after the break, Okeke was brought down inside the Rovers box leaving Harrison to wrap up his hat-trick from 12-yards.
The final chance of the game fell Oboavwoduo who beat his man before curling a stunning right-footed effort into the top corner.
HOW WE LINED UP
True Grant started in goal with Jahmai Simpson-Pusey and Isaiah Dada-Mascoll playing as the two central defenders, Kian Noble was the advancing full-back with Seb Naylor matching him on the left side of back four.
Charlie Gray sat just in front of back four, providing that extra bit of cover for the defence with Michael Okeke and Alfie Harrison in the more advance midfield roles.
Jaden Heskey led the line with Farid Alfa-Ruprecht on the right side of the front three and Ashton Muir on the left.
Manchester City Under-17s
Starting XI: Grant, Noble, Simpson-Pusey, Dada-Mascoll (Susuho 62’), Naylor, Gray, Alfa-Ruprecht (Wright 70’), Okeke (Obaovwoduo 70’), Heskey, Harrison (Fletcher 82’), Muir.
Subs: Spaven.
Blackburn Rovers Under-17s
Starting XI: Honor, Murphy-Worrell (C), Powell (Ramwell 72’), Atcheson, Doherty, O’Grady (Litherland 46’), Msangou, Wilson, Shaw, Willis (Chmiel 69’), Taylor.
Subs: Blease.
WHAT IT MEANS
The victory means we sit third in Group G a point behind Manchester United Under-17s and Stoke City Under-17s.
A win in our final group game would see us progress to the quarter finals.
UP NEXT
We face top-of-the-table Stoke City Under-17s in our final Group G game, they have won one and drawn one in the Premier League Cup so far.
