Mebude stars as Under-18s thrash Stoke

In a first half goal frenzy, the winger thrashed the ball into the roof of the net before setting up Will Dickson to see City lead by two with just six minutes played.

Micah Hamilton made it three within 20 minutes, before Mebude grabbed his second just six minutes later and Luca Barrington made it five before half-time, which proved to be the end of the scoring on a entertaining afternoon at the City Football Academy. 

WHAT HAPPENED 

City came flying out the blocks right from the first whistle, instantly imposing themselves on the Stoke City defence. 

And it didn’t take long for us to find a breakthrough as Tomas Galvez fed the ball to Mebude, whose quick feet beat the defender before lashing a left footed shot into the roof of the Stoke net with just four minutes played. 

Mebude would then turn from scorer to provider just two minutes later when his shot was saved by Tommy Simkin, he calmly squared the ball to Dickson who clinically fired past the Stoke keeper high into the net as City doubled their lead. 

But the forward pressure did not stop there, once again through the speedy Mebude, whose pace could not be withheld by the Stoke defence all afternoon. This time his cut-back found it’s way to Hamilton inside the area, whose deft touch was enough to guide the ball into the bottom corner and see City lead by three with under 20 minutes gone. 

Three would soon become four, but this time the threat came from the left hand side via Barrington, who fizzed a ball across the box, missing Dickson, but finding Mebude to divert the ball home for our fourth. 

And just before half-time, it would become five as Mebude’s shot was saved brilliantly by keeper Simkin onto the post, but unfortunately for him Barrington was on hand to tap home the rebound as City went into the break with a comfortable lead. 

The second-half produced a more even contest, as the visitors utilised a low block to nullify the threat shown by City’s wingers in the first half. 

Substitute Joel Ndala could have added to City’s tally in the 75th minute, but he couldn’t quite reach to poke Mebude’s cross home, seeing the game finish five to the good for Ben Wilkinson‘s side. 

HOW WE LINED UP

George Murray-Jones was named as the City stopper, behind a back four of captain Rico Lewis, Isaac Smith, Max Alleyne and Tomas Galvez. 

Mo Susoho, Nico O’Reilly and Micah Hamilton made up the midfield trio, supporting the strike force comprised of Adedire Mebude, Will Dickson and Luca Barrington. 

WHAT IT MEANS 

The result sees us go top of the Under-18 Premier League North by one point to Blackburn Rovers at the time of writing, although the Lancashire side will play later on in the day. 

It also sees us continue our good run of form, as Ben Wilkinson‘s side pick up their third win in four games. 

UP NEXT 

The Under-18s’ next encounter is a huge top-of-the-table home tie with Blackburn Rovers, who are currently leading the U18 Premier League North, two points ahead of City, giving a chance for the Blues to go ahead of our Lancashire rivals. 

Kick off is at 12:00 on Tuesday 1 February at the City Football Academy.