Stunning O’Reilly brace helps U18s win the derby

City started the mini derby strongly, and were rewarded when O’Reilly smashed in the opener from a tight angle inside 12 minutes.

The captain was at it again before the break, sending an audacious chip over Elyh Harrison to double the advantage.

United halved the deficit with ten to play through Louis Jackson, but a stoppage time free-kick from Naylor sealed the points for Ben Wilkinson‘s side.

Victory also ensured City - looking to be crowned champions for a third successive year - hold the advantage ahead of second-placed Sunderland’s visit to the Academy Stadium next weekend.

It promises to be a thrilling encounter, which is available to watch live on CITY+ and Recast.

WHAT HAPPENED

The sun was shining over Carrington Training Centre, and it was City who started the brighter of the two sides.

U18 Premier League top scorer Justin Oboavwoduo was the first to go close, forcing a low diving save out of Harrison in the United goal from the edge of the box.

It was a thrilling opening to the derby, with United’s Ethan Williams firing straight at George Murray-Jones from a promising position soon after.

The City stopper was called into action once again soon after, diving at the feet of Adam Berry after he beat the offside trap, with Max Alleyne blocking the ball on the line to prevent Finley McAllister from tapping home the rebound.

But as all City teams are geared to do at every level, we maintained our passing game and would break the deadlock on 12 minutes.

Ashton Muir swung the ball in from the right-hand side, with Harrison tipping the ball away from the onrushing Jaden Heskey. However, the ball bounced to O’Reilly on the far post and the forward fired a rocket into the back of the net to grab the lead in the derby.

It was nearly two soon after when Naylor drove into the box, and crossed the ball in on the by-line but, unfortunately for Joel Ndala, it ricocheted off the winger and just past the post.

We weren’t to be denied again though, with another incredible moment of quality from O’Reilly adding to our tally.

The skipper pulled out something special with a goal that a fixture such as this deserved on the half hour mark.

Isaiah Dada-Mascoll won the ball back on the half way line, passed it to O’Reilly, who spotted Harrison off his line and dinked the United stopper from around 35 yards.

It was another incredible solo effort from the captain, following his incredible late scorpion kick against Middlesbrough last week.

An enthralling game continued to ebb and flow in the second half, with Ndala forcing another save from Harrison which was parried out to Heskey, but a wall of red bodies denied him.

Ndala’s fine performance continued and, after City played the ball expertly through the thirds, the winger set up O’Reilly, whose effort was once again blocked.

The wind was in our sails, as Heskey made a powerful solo run through, a one-two with Ndala led to a low drive which was saved again.

Moments later, Heskey returned the favour, as Ndala won it back and played a give and go with the forward, who forced another fine acrobatic save from Harrison.

Indeed, the United stopper’s heroics made sure his side were still in the contest, and the hosts made sure it was a nervy finish when Jackson rose highest from a corner to halve the deficit with ten to play.

City knew a draw would hand the advantage back to Sunderland in the title race, and had to ride a few nervy moments as the hosts pressed for a late equaliser.

However, it was Ben Wilkinson‘s youngsters who would find the net and seal the tie with another moment of real quality in stoppage time.

City won a free-kick on the edge of the United box and Naylor, firing towards the goalkeeper’s side, curled an unstoppable drive into the far corner.

HOW WE LINED UP

George Murray-Jones returned in between the posts for this game, and was protected by a familiar back four of Jacob Wright, Jahmai Simpson-Pusey, Max Alleyne and Seb Naylor.

Isaiah Dada-Mascoll sat in a deep lying midfield role, as Nico O’Reilly and Justin Oboavwoduo operated further ahead in the centre of the field.

Jaden Heskey led the line as a sole striker, with Ashton Muir and Joel Ndala, supporting closely on the wings.

Manchester United U18s

XI | Harrison, Nolan, Murray (C), Jackson, Ogunneye, Fitzgerald (Aljofree 85’), Lacey (Scanlon 85’), McAllister (Moorehouse 79’), Wheatley, Berry (Norkett 63’), Williams

Subs | Murdock

Manchester City U18s

XI | Murray-Jones, Wright (Okeke 85’), Simpson-Pusey, Alleyne, Naylor, Dada-Mascoll, Muir (Alfa-Ruprecht 85’), Oboavwoduo, Heskey (Gray 75’), O’Reilly (C), Ndala

SUBS | Grant, Harrison

WHAT IT MEANS

Victory in the Manchester derby this afternoon pushes us four points clear at the top of the Under-18s Premier League North - at the time of writing.

However, Sunderland could close the gap to a point if they beat Everton in the afternoon.

WHAT’S NEXT

Next weekend, Ben Wilkinson’s face a potential title decider, as we play host to second-placed Sunderland at the City of Football Academy.

Kick off is scheduled for Saturday 22 April at 13:00 (UK).

CITY+ | SUBSCRIBE TO ACCESS EXCLUSIVE CONTENT

The fixture will also be available to watch live on both CITY+ and Recast.