City hit West Brom for six to power into FA Youth Cup semi-finals

Oliver Reiss’s side extended our 100 per cent record across 2025 as the young Baggies were dispatched in clinical fashion with Finlay Gorman claiming a hat-trick.

Matty Warhurst, Stephen Mfuni and Gorman had all struck to send the City youngsters in 3-0 to the good at the break.

And the goals continued early after the restart with Gorman claiming a second and Reigan Heskey also on the scoresheet before Gorman then sealed his hat-trick in injury time to round off a superb night’s work and put City one step closer towards retaining the famous trophy.

What happened

The City youngsters kicked off in the Black Country seeking to both take a giant step further towards a successful defence of youth football’s most prestigious prize– and to extend our perfect run of seven straight wins across 2025.

And it was City who were straight on the offensive at the Hawthorns, dominating territory and possession.

The first big chance arrived on on four minutes when Warhurst fed Gorman whose snap-shot was tipped round the post by Albion ‘keeper Louis Brady.

Reigan Heskey saw a 19th minute header just clear the target after he latched onto Harrison Parker’s inviting cross with the winger then sending a low 15-yard effort just wide of the target four minutes later.

As City sought to up the attacking ante, Gorman then warmed Brady’s fingers with a stinging drive on the half hour.

It felt as if a goal must come, and City’s pressure was finally rewarded on 36 minutes when Warhurst broke the deadlock.

A finely weighted Ryan McAidoo pass put Gorman in space on the right wing.

He picked out the waiting Divine Mukasa in the centre of the box.

The playmaker’s first-time volley was tipped onto the left upright and then travelled across the line where, like all good strikers, Warhurst was waiting to apply the finish.

City almost applied a quickfire double eight minutes later, Gorman latching onto a rebound in the Albion box and fizzing a powerful shot in which Brady did well to tip round the post.

But City weren’t to be denied and from the resulting corner Stephen Mfuni ghosted in at the far post to head home our second of the night.

And things got even better in the second minute of added first half time when Gorman’s industry and application was rewarded with a fine third goal, the midfielder drilling in an 18-yard shot that evaded Brady’s desperate dive with the last action of the half.

Armed with such a commanding advantage, City looked to further stretch our lead straight after the break and Mukasa came within an ace of making it four, his delicate 52nd minute chip hitting the Baggies bar.

In the mood and in the groove City weren’t to be denied however and Gorman struck again in spectacular fashion for his second and our fourth goal on 56  minutes.

The midfielder bent a quite wonderful 15-yard curling shot around Brady to further extend the Blues’ lead.

The goals kept raining in with Reigan Heskey next on the scoresheet drilling home in lethal fashion just two minutes later to make it 5-0.

And a wonderful night’s display was then rounded off in injury time when Gorman lashed home to complete his hat-trick and serve up a perfect six for City.

How we lined up

Oliver Whatmuff was in goal and shielded by a back four of Harrison Parker, Kian Noble, Stephen Mfuni and skipper Kaden Braithwaite.

Harrison Miles was the holding midfielder with Divine Mukasa and Finlay Gorman also in the City engine room.

Matty Warhurst was our central attacking focal point with Reigan Heskey and Ryan McAidoo providing the width on either flank.

WEST BROM: Brady, Maughan, Morrish (c), Dupont, Letlat (Shaw 84), Blackshields (Cherchi 84), Iddrisa, Colesby (French 45), Onyemachi, Parmar (Bostock 69), Okorodudu (Ranger 69)

Subs: Moses, Abudu, G Shaw

CITY XI: Whatmuff, Parker, Noble, Mfuni, Braithwaite (c) (Headley 64), Miles (Fapetu 64), Mukasa (F Samba 75), Gorman, Heskey, Warhurst (Fletcher 64), McAidoo (Dunbar-McDonald 45)

Subs:  Hudson, T Samba

What it means

City are through to the last four for the third season in a row and still on course to retain the famous trophy we lifted last May.

The draw for the semi-finals takes place tomorrow (Friday February 28) at 13.00pm (UK).

Full details will be provided on our official App and mancity.com as soon as it is made.

What’s next

Reiss’s youngsters are back in action on Saturday, March 8 when we play host to Wolves in a Premier League Under North clash.

Kick-off at the CFA is slated for 11.30am (UK).