EDS claim derby bragging rights in impressive style

City’s Elite Development Squad secured a third successive PL2 victory thanks to an impressive 3-1 derby win away at Manchester United.

Ben Wilkinson‘s side struck first through Farid Alfa-Ruprecht on the stroke of half time only for the hosts to draw level 10 minutes after the restart.

However the City youngsters turned up the derby heat in what was a fine overall display at Carrington.

Jaden Heskey restored our advantage on 68 minutes before Will Dickson fired home 13 minutes from time to seal both the win and the Manchester bragging rights.

What happened

After defeat in the UEFA Youth League in midweek, a Manchester derby in Premier League 2 served as the perfect way for Wilkinson’s squad to respond.

But it was United who came flying out of the traps. From a neat move from back to front, Ethan Wheatley was played through in behind City’s defence and one-on-one with Jack Wint, but the City keeper stood firm, blocking Wheatley’s shot with his boot.

A free-kick was taken short by Sam Mather, on the left, but the winger received it again and drove into the box, but his curling effort was blocked by a City defender.

Seconds later at the other end of the pitch, Nico O’Reilly pressed the young Red Devils keeper, Hubert Graczyk, as the ball was played back to him, but the City captain was unfortunate to see the ball roll a whisker wide of the post after all his hard work.

Wheatley was proving to be a thorn in City’s backline, but on two successive occasions from a similar position on the right, his fired wide.

As the clock reached the 30 minute mark, a cross from Ethan Ennis deflected off Max Alleyne and bounced off the post and then cleared with City struggling to create any rhythm.

Jack Fletcher ghosted in behind as City’s defence were opened up again, but United’s striker was unable to break the deadlock, as he skewed past the far post.

However, it was City who took the lead in added time at the end at the end of the first-half.

A ball was cleared up the pitch, but the windy conditions meant Graczyk misjudged the bounce of the ball, and Alfa-Ruprecht was there to take the ball away from the keeper and slot into an empty net.

Wilkinson reenergised his side for the second-half, and it was City who were pressing for another goal to extend the lead, but crosses into the box weren’t finding their intended targets.

Just before the hour mark it was United who found the equaliser.

Williams pressed and battled Alleyne off the ball and made no mistake this time in sending Wint the wrong way to fire the hosts onto level terms.

A corner was swung in for United and Ennis found himself unmarked on the back post, but fortunately, Wint was there to block his header on the line.

It was City though who upped the ante in clinical fashion.

City had an initial corner cleared but the move was recycled down the right, and Alfa-Ruprecht’s cross was headed towards Heskey who lifted up a leg to direct the ball past Graczyk to put us in front once more.

10 minutes later, City extended the lead further as Dickson produced an exquisite turn to face goal and he chipped the United keeper to give Wilkinson’s side a two goal advantage and so seal another crucial three points.

HOW WE LINED UP

Wilkinson selected Jack Wint to remain in-between the posts for City and he was protected by a back four of Michael Okeke, Max Alleyne, Jahmai Simpson-Pusey and Seb Naylor.

Jacob Wright sat in front of the defence with Jaden Heskey and Nico O’Reilly operating as the creative midfielders in the middle of the pitch.

Will Dickson was accompanied by Farid Alfa-Ruprecht and Emilo Lawrence in the attack.

MANCHESTER UNITED XI: Graczyk, Ogunneye (88’ Missin), Amass, Jackson, Kingdon, Devaney (66’ Rowe), Ennis (66’ Sharpe), Collyer, Wheatley, Fletcher (66’ Curley), Mather

Subs: Murdock

CITY XI: Wint, Okeke (46’ Samuel), Alleyne, Simpson-Pusey, Naylor (85’ Henderson-Hall), Wright, Alfa-Ruprecht, Heskey, Dickson (87’ Oboavwoduo), O’Reilly (46’ Gray), Lawrence

Subs: Whatmuff