FA Youth Cup Final

Manchester City U18 4 (Richards OG 47’, Heskey 59’, Mfuni 70’, Warhurst 83’

Leeds United U18 0

Manchester City: Grant (GK), Henderson-Hall, Noble, Simpson-Pusey (C), Mfuni (Naylow 85’), Gray, Alfa-Ruprecht, Oboavwoduo (Warhurst 73’), Heskey, Mukasa (Okeke 73’), Ndala. Subs not used: Wint (GK), Fapetu, Dunbar-McDonald, Fletcher.

Leeds: Mahady (GK), Richards, Toulson (C), Crew, Cresswell, Lopata-White, Vincent (Brockie 80’), Chadwick, Lane (Douglas 60’), Chambers, McDonald. Subs not used: Grainger (GK), Billett, Bird, Pickles, Brown.

Referee: Dean Whitestone

Booked: Henderson-Hall, Noble (City) Richards (Leeds)

Venue: Etihad Stadium

Leeds United Under-18s FA Youth Cup campaign ended in final heartache as the Whites were beaten by Manchester City Under-18s.

Backed by an army of over 6,500 travelling supporters who were in fine voice at the Etihad, United’s defence stood firm early on as the hosts dominated the ball, before Rob Etherington’s side began to look dangerous breaking at pace.

Sam Chambers latched on to a loose ball down the left and skipped past his marker, marauding to the edge of the City penalty area before laying it off to Harvey Vincent, with the winger seeing his early-taken effort blocked well by a blue shirt.

Joel Ndala, the hosts’ livewire on the left flank, then went close for his side, lashing into the side netting after being picked out on the edge of the area by midfielder Justin Oboavwoduo, before Farid Alfa-Ruprecht flashed a dangerous ball across the face of goal looking for striker Jayden Heskey.

Ndala was again amongst the action shortly afterwards, finding the run of the overlapping Stephen Mfuni whose low drilled cross was saved well by Rory Mahady.

Moments later, Alfa-Ruprecht thought he had put Ben Wilkinson’s side into the lead as he fired into the roof of the net, only to be denied by the offside flag as he raced away down the right, with Oboavwoduo then curling wide as City came forward once more moments later.

With the hosts enjoying the lion share of possession, the directness of United’s forward players on the counter continued to cause problems for City.

Scotland youth international Josh McDonald received the ball out on the left touchline, darted past Matty Henderson-Hall and fired across goal, with the ball somehow evading everybody in a pink shirt before running out.

Five minutes before the break, Heskey spurned a glorious opportunity to open the scoring, glancing Alfa-Ruprecht’s floated cross past Mahady’s far post.

More chances came and went for the Blues late on in the first half, with Whites skipper Dan Toulson on hand to clear Alfa-Ruprecht’s goalbound half-volley, before Heskey hooked the rebound wide.

HALF TIME: Manchester City U18 0-0 Leeds United U18

Moments into the second half and City took the lead in scrappy circumstances, when Oboavwoduo bundled home a rebound with the help of a defection off the unfortunate Joe Richards, after initially seeing his low strike saved well by Mahady.

City looked to capitalise on that breakthrough as they searched for a quick-fire second, with McDonald well-placed to block Alfa-Ruprecht’s left-footed shot from the edge of the area.

Heskey would add a second on the hour mark, tapping home from point-blank range. Kian Noble’s incisive pass set Alfa-Ruprecht in behind on the right, with the winger’s low cross leaving his teammate with the simplest of tasks to double the advantage.

Not to be deterred by the scoreline however, Etherington’s young side came close to halving the deficit shortly after the restart as Vincent lashed over from distance.

Chambers then spotted Richards in acres of space on the right touchline, with the versatile full-back racing towards the penalty area before returning the favour, laying it off to the midfielder whose first-time drive deflected behind.

From the resulting corner, the Whites went close once more, as desperate defending from City saw a blue shirt charge down Charlie Crew’s fierce strike.

Mfuni made it three for the hosts 20 minutes from time, heading home from close range after Wilkinson’s team won a free kick deep inside Leeds’ territory.

Substitute Connor Douglas went close to getting on the scoresheet when he flicked a dangerous Rhys Chadwick delivery towards the near post, but City keeper True Grant was alert to make a fine diving save to deny the winger.

Matty Warhurst added another for the Blues on the break as Leeds piled bodies forward searching for a lifeline, firing low across Mahady and into the corner.

Moments before the full-time whistle, Crew looked to pick out the far corner from distance, seeing his shot bounce inches wide of the upright.

FULL TIME: Manchester City U18 4-0 Leeds United U18