City edged out in Under-18 Premier League Cup final

Ben Wilkinson’s youngsters produced a spirited display, dominating territory and possession for large swathes of the game.

And we laid virtual siege to the visitors goal in a brave, battling second half display with Matty Warhust, skipper Jaden Heskey and Farid Alfa-Ruprecht amongst those to go agonisingly close before Stephen Mfuni deservedly headed home on 85 minutes.

However, a brace of first half goals from the hosts’ danger man Ethan Wheatley, who struck on eight and 25 minutes, ultimately proved decisive and earned United both the derby bragging rights and the silverware.

What happened

With the Cup up for grabs, it meant there was even more at stake to this latest derby meeting which pitted newly-crowned Under-18 Premier League North champions United and second placed City.

And the intensity was evident right from the off in a high-octane start.

City striker Warhust almost charged down an errant second minute clearance from United keeper Elyh Harrison.

At the other end, City keeper Spike Brits earned his spurs with a fine fifth minute diving save to keep out Ruben Curley’s goal bound shot after the United midfielder tried his luck from 25 yards out.

And it was the hosts who struck first with Ethan Wheatley firing United into an eighth-minute lead.

The centre forward collected a long ball from James Nolan before lashing home a vicious effort from the right side of the box which gave Brits no chance.

The City youngsters sought to summon up an immediate response to the setback with Farid Alfa-Ruprecht powering in a 10th minute shot which Harrison gathered safely.

Divine Mukasa and Seb Naylor also tried their luck from outside the box as Wilkinson’s side upped the ante.

But almost immediately the City youngsters were hit with another body blow as United struck again on 25 minutes through danger man Wheatley to double their advantage.

A Scanlon header sent James Nolan scampering down the right flank unmarked and though Mfuni got half a touch to the through ball into the heart of the box, Wheatley was able to gather and round Brits before firing past Kian Noble’s challenge.

With the hosts packing every man behind the ball when not in possession, it meant space was at a premium, but City were presented with a great chance to narrow the deficit on 34 minutes.

A driving run from Isaiah Dada-Mascoll found Mukasa in the heart of the United half.

He threaded through a perfectly weighted ball to the onrushing Warhust but his goal bound effort was blocked by onrushing United keeper Harrison.

City then saw a 43rd minute penalty appeal turned down by referee Liam Corrigan after Heskey when down under a heavy challenge in the box before another long-range effort from Warhusrt was narrowly off target.

Wilkinson’s side came out for the second half with urgency and intent and pounded the United half for the first minutes but just lacked the final key pass.

United then demonstrated their threat on the break once more with Scanlon sending a 56th minute right footed effort narrowly over after a quickfire counter.

And Brits then had to be alert to deny substitute Gabriele Blancheri after some Scanlon trickery created an opening in the City six-yard box before producing an even better block to deny United sub Jacob Devaney on 70 minutes.

However it was now wave after wave of City attacks with Wilkinson bringing on Luca Fletcher and Christian Dunbar-McDonald to try and force a crucial reply.

And Fletcher was inches away from meeting Alfa-Ruprecht’s dipping cross as he almost made an instant impact.

Alfa-Ruprecht was also agonisingly close before Harrison tipped over a goalbound effort from Henderson-Hall on 84 minutes.

The United keeper did even better a minute later to deny Heskey before City finally made a deserved breakthrough through Stephan Mfuni five minutes from time, the central defender superbly nodding home Mukasa’s cross.

With City utterly dominant only a fine Harrison save then denied Alfa-Ruprecht’s 90th minute shot from drawing us level.

Harrison produced an even better save deep into injury time to somehow deny Alfa-Ruprecht’s close range header.

And that proved decisive with United clinging on to claim victory.

How we lined up

Spike Brits was in goal for City and shielded by a back four of Matty Henderson-Hall, Kian Noble, Stephen Mfuni and Seb Naylor.

Isaiah Dada- Mascoll was the holding midfielder with Jaden Heskey and Divine Mukasa in the engine room.

Matty Warhurst, Justin Oboavwoduo, and Farid Alfa-Ruprecht were City’s attacking trident.

CITY XI: Brits, Henderson-Hall, Noble, Mfuni, Naylor (Dunbar-McDonald 67), Dada-Mascoll, Heskey (c), Mukasa, Oboavwoduo, Warhurst (Fletcher 67), Alfa-Ruprecht.

Subs: Okeke, Wint, Fapetu.

UNITED: Harrison, Nolan, Amass (Mantato 45), Kingdon, Jackson (Ogunneye 45), McAllister, Scanlon, Curley (Devaney 63), Wheatley (Blancherri 45), Fletcher (Lacey 72), Williams, Ogunneye

What it means

City miss out on the chance to claim what would have been a third Under-18 Premier League Cup triumph.

However, the City youngsters still have the chance to collect a major piece of silverware next month.

We play host to Leeds United in the FA Youth Cup final in a game that will be staged at the Etihad on Friday, May 10 with City looking to claim the prestigious prize for the fourth time in our history.

What’s next

The City youngsters are back in action in Saturday when we return to Under-18 Premier League action with a trip to tackle Leeds United in a dress rehearsal for the Youth Cup final.

Kick-off in West Yorkshire is slated for 12pm (UK) with CITY+ subscribers able to watch the game live.