City’s Under-18s picked up a seventh successive league win after a fantastic 7-1 triumph over Newcastle on Saturday afternoon.
Reigan Heskey carried his UEFA Youth League form into the Under-18 Premier League North, firing City ahead on eight minutes with a composed finish.
On 25 minutes, Finlay Gorman’s lovely, lofted strike looped into the Newcastle goal after a fantastic 40-yard run by the midfielder.
Ryan McAidoo made it three with a neat effort as City continued to put pressure on the Magpies.
Dante Headley completed a near-perfect opening 45 minutes with a fourth courtesy of smart link-up play with Divine Mukasa.
Logan Watts wiped off City’s clean sheet with a headed consolation early in the second half.
But 60 seconds later, Mukasa produced a magical moment as he scored from kick-off, on the halfway line, as he caught the opposition ‘keeper off guard.
The City midfielder made it six with his second, a chested effort not long after the hour mark.
Mukasa then bagged his second half hat-trick, tapping home Luca Fletcher‘s cross in the final minutes.
WHAT HAPPENED
In our penultimate league game of 2024, Oliver Reiss and his team looked eager to end the calendar year as strong as possible and, in turn, solidify our place in the top three.
City always look comfortable at home and that was the case from kick-off as the young boys in blue aimed to hold the ball early and set the pace.
And that pace was quick, with lightning-fast link-up play that left our opponents struggling to settle.
Starting our attacks from the back, skipper Kaden Braithwaite played the ball out to the left wing where Heskey was waiting to carry the ball.
FULL FOCUS : Kian Noble warming up before kick-off.
And he did just that, for 40 yards. And as Heskey entered the Newcastle box, the forward shifted his weight across and unleashed a low curling shot with his right foot to fire City ahead inside 10 minutes.
After the restart, the Magpies looked to switch play and avoid City’s high press which saw Matty Warhurst, Heskey and McAidoo working in tandem to force an error from the visitors.
The intensity of the game was impressive with both teams attacking with pace but City would soon shift the game back in our favour.
Gorman found a lovely pocket of space in City’s half, he took Kian Noble’s pass on the half turn and began to drive towards Newcastle’s goal as we continued to mount on the pressure.
Similar to Heskey, Gorman carried the ball 40 yards, uncontested, and then completed the move with a 20-yard looping effort that was just out of reach for ‘keeper Adam Harrison who watched the ball fly under the crossbar to make it two.
MIGHTY MIDFIELDER : Divine Mukasa looking to orchestrate play.
Straight after the restart, City refused to give Newcastle respite. This time, McAidoo found the back of the net, the 16-year-old in fantastic form following his Youth League hat-trick earlier in the week.
His quick trickery saw him dance around three opposing players before slotting the ball home from inside the six-yard box on the half-hour mark.
City’s precision was showcased beautifully when the squad moved from one end of the pitch to the other in seconds. Five passes and McAidoo almost completed the sequence with another goal with his effort rolling just wide of the left post. Purely mesmerising football from our Under-18s.
As the end of the first half approached, a cheeky chipped pass by Mukasa split Newcastle’s defence and was met by speedy full-back Headley who found a tiny pocket of space at the near post.
He dispatched his shot clinically for his first Under-18 Premier League North goal with five minutes left to play in the first half.
Mukasa then looked to turn from provider to scorer. Seconds after the restart, his drive in the centre of the pitch saw space open up on the edge of the box. His right-footed shot was palmed onto the crossbar by Harrison, a move and effort which almost completed the perfect half of football for City.
GOALS GALORE : Ryan McAidoo and Finlay Gorman celebrate the latter's goal.
As second halves go, they don’t start much quicker than this one!
Newcastle pulled one back through Watts who headed home his team’s corner at the back post on 48 minutes with City a little slow out the gate.
But, in a contender for goal of the season, Mukasa restored City’s four-goal lead in seconds. Warhurst nudged the ball off the centre spot as the referee resumed play and the former blasted an effort at the Newcastle goal after he spotted Harrison far off his line.
The ball floated in to leave the spectators amazed at the 60 seconds of football that unfolded.
The intensity didn’t waiver and this time it was Newcastle’s chance to score again. A foul in the box saw referee Umar Ahmed point to the spot to City’s frustration. But a spectacular double save by Max Hudson to deny Sean Neave kept the score at 5-1 after a frantic five minutes.
NUMBER NINE : Matty Warhurst leading the charge.
Reiss’s side knew they needed to be composed and take control of the game and shouts of ‘recycle’ and ‘keep the ball’ echoed around the City Football Academy as the Blues looked to dictate play.
The tempo slowed slightly and as a result, a brief spell of no goals followed. But City would then find a sixth. Heskey’s low cross from the left was guided goal-bound by Mukasa’s chest, just out of reach for Harrison, on 66 minutes.
A handful of strong saves from the Newcastle goalkeeper denied Warhurst and Mukasa as City continued to push for more goals and our desire to put the game firmly out of reach of the Magpies was the driving force of our performance.
Then Mukasa would complete his hat-trick as City made it seven to complete an afternoon full of goals.
A well-placed over-the-top through ball by Noble set substitute Luca Fletcher through on goal. But his touch saw him move more towards the byline.
Unselfishly, he played a pinpoint pass across the Newcastle goal which Mukasa tapped home, a fantastic afternoon for him and City as we extended our winning form.
HAT-TRICK HERO : Divine Mukasa with his well-earned match ball.
HOW WE LINED UP
Max Hudson was tasked with protecting City’s goal along with a back four of Charlie Courtman, Kian Noble, Kaden Braithwaite and Dante Headley.
In midfield, Femi Fapetu looked to link up and control the centre of the pitch with Finlay Gorman and Divine Mukasa.
Matty Warhurst led our attacking charge again with in-form duo Ryan McAidoo and Reigan Heskey on his right and left flanks respectively.
CITY XI | Hudson, Courtman (Chingwaro 66’), Noble, Braithwaite, Headley, Fapetu (Miles 46’), McAidoo (Fletcher 74’), Gorman, Warhurst, Mukasa, R. Heskey (T. Samba 67’).
SUBS | Engelberg.
NEWCASTLE XI | Harrison, Johnson, Cogdon (Durrant 76’), Watts, Craggs, Finneran (Taylor 76’), Ferreira (Bryant 46’), Munda, Neave, Brayson, Miles.
SUBS | Jones, Alabi.
: Oliver Reiss watches on.
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WHAT IT MEANS
City remain second in the Under-18 Premier League North standings.
We sit five points behind league leaders Manchester United and three points ahead of third-place Derby County.
UP NEXT
Our attention now turns to the start of our 2024/25 FA Youth Cup journey.
City’s Under-18s are looking to retain the title after our triumph in the campaign prior. And our route to the final begins with a clash against Crystal Palace.
Kick-off at the Joie Stadium is scheduled for 19:00 (UK) with the game available to watch live on CITY+.
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