A first half penalty from talisman, Tai Sodje, a brace from Darko Gyabi, and goals from Carlos Borges and Oscar Bobb capped off another scintilating display by Carlos Vicens’ side.
Victory at the City Football Academy keeps City well in the league title hunt, as we sit two points behind leaders, Manchester United with six games to go.
WHAT HAPPENED
After dropping points away to Derby County in midweek, the City youngsters were looking to bounce back and return to winning ways at the CFA in this one.
As a result, U18 Premier League North top scorer, Sodje put Vicens’ team on their way to a winning return as he opened the scoring on the half-hour mark from the penalty spot.
The goal extends Sodje’s prolific scoring run to 10 goals in his previous eight league games, and takes his tally for the season up to 19 in 18 games.
One man who has been in impressive form of late for Vicens’ team is Borges after notching up 19 goal contributions so far this season, and he added to his tally five minutes after the break.
The Portuguese winger combined with fellow wideman, Bobb to double our lead and give Vicens side some breathing space heading in the final half-hour.
Just five minutes after adding our second Borges returned the favour to Bobb as the pair combined yet again.
This time it was the latter who found the net, as Bobb scored his sixth league goal of this season to all but secure the three points for the City youngsters.
A positive to come out of the 3-3 draw with Derby County last time out was the return of Gyabi, after the midfielder spent nearly three months on the sidelines due to injury.
Despite not making a direct impact in his first substitute return, the midfielder made up for lost time in this one as he linked up with Borges to score our fourth of the afternoon, just two minutes after coming on as a substitute.
The ever-confident Borges continued to cause havoc down the left-hand side for Vicens’ side and the winger made it a hat-trick of assists as he once again set up substitute Gyabi for his second, and City’s fifth.
The visitors grabbed a late consolation two minutes from time as Kris Moore pulled one back, however the free-scoring City youngsters were the side who deservdly came away with all three points.
HOW WE LINED UP
Mikki Van Sas‘ goal was protected by a back four of Kwaku Oduroh, Shea Charles, Jadel Katongo and Juan Larios.
Harvey Griffiths, Micah Hamilton and Dire Mebude formed our midfield three, with Oscar Bobb and Carlos Borges occupying the right, and left wing.
Tai Sodje led the line up-front.
WHAT IT MEANS
The victory means Vicens side stay second in the league table on 43 points, two behind leaders, Manchester United with six games to go.
UP NEXT
The Under-18s will return to action after the upcoming international break, facing Burnley away from home in the U18 Premier League North on Saturday 3 April.
The game will kick off at 13:00 (UK).
