Warhurst hat-trick inspires comeback win at Leeds

The hosts were awarded a penalty on 21 minutes after a foul by Rhys Thomas and their top goalscorer, Harry Gray, stepped up and converted from the spot.

City started the second-half with attacking intent as Matty Warhurst dispatched Luca Fletcher’s squared ball, and 12 minutes later fired a shot into the far corner of the net on the half volley to give us the advantage.

Justin Oboavwoduo scored his first goal of the season for the Under-18s striking into the bottom left corner from a central position, before Warhurst claimed his hat-trick by rounding Owen Grainger and tapping into an empty net.

Ben Wilkinson’s side produced an excellent, attacking, second-half performance and blew Leeds United away in the dress rehearsal before the FA Youth Cup final in under two weeks time.

WHAT HAPPENED

Ben Wilkinson’s side travelled to West Yorkshire to face an in-form Leeds United side who we’ll play again in the FA Youth Cup Final at the Etihad on Friday 10th May.

City attempted to cause Leeds a whole host of problems in the first 20 minutes, but we were unable to test Owen Grainger in Leeds United goal.

Instead, Harry Gray burst forward from the halfway line and was brought down in the penalty area by Rhys Thomas, which resulted in the referee pointing to the spot. Gray, stepped up and converted the penalty past Wint to give the young Whites the lead.

Buoyed by the opener, the fourth-placed side in the league were searching for second.

After a period of sustained pressure, Devon Brockie had a shot in the 18-yard box blocked by Stephen Mfuni, and to Wint’s delight, the ball fell nicely into his gloves.

Leeds United’s top goalscorer, Gray, was causing all sorts of difficulties after some neat footwork created space to try and catch Wint at the near post from a narrow angle, but the City keeper got a hand to it to deny him a second.

Moments later, City had their best chance of the match. Matty Warhurst curled a left footed strike from far out, which had to be tipped over by a stretching Grainger with a one handed, finger tip save.

Momentum swung in our favour, as Fletcher pounced onto a loose ball and ran through on goal, but his shot from a narrow angle was blocked by the young Whites keeper.

Manchester City came out for the second half with attaching intent, and got back into the match within three minutes.

Fletcher intercepted a weak back pass from Joseph Richards, and squared the ball to fellow striker, Matty Warhurst, who’s scuffed his effort but it made its way across the goal line after Daniel Toulson was unable to keep it out.

The wind was in our blowing in City’s sails, as Dunbar-McDonald and Fletcher both had blocked attempts inside the Leeds box as we got closer to another breakthrough.

Fletcher thought he had given us the lead on two occasions after being unable to convert a one-on-one with Grainger and striking against the woodwork which left the young striker with his head in his hands.

The post was to keep us out for a second time, after Warhurst had an attempt rebound off the woodwork, but another goal was in striker’s future.

The ball fell kindly into the pathway of the goalscorer after Dunbar-McDonald had an effort blocked, his strike on the half volley from the right fired past Grainger into the far top left corner of the net.

City were in the ascendancy, as Oboavwoduo worked an opening for himself on the edge of the 18-yard box and struck past Grainger into the bottom left corner from a central position.

Warhurst capped off the scoring by securing his hat-trick, after Fletcher had slipped him through on goal and the young striker ran through before he slotted the ball past Grainger.

Fletcher and substitute, Reigan Heskey, both made the Leeds keeper work late on, as City produced the perfect performance to respond to Tuesday’s Under-18s Premier League Cup defeat.

HOW WE LINED UP

Ben Wilkinson made seven changes to the side that narrowly lost the Under-18s Premier League Cup final in midweek. Jack Wint started in goal, with a back four of Rhys Thomas, Stephen Mfuni, Luke Drake and Seb Naylor protecting him.

Oluwafemi Fapetu shielded the defence, with Seth Chingwaro and Justin Oboavwoduo pushing higher up in the midfield.

Luca Fletcher led the attacking line-up, with Matty Warhurst and Christian Dunbar-McDonald closely supporting him on the wings.

Leeds United Under-18s

XI | Grainger, Richards (86’ White), Toulson (C), Cresswell, Billett, Brockie (60’ Morris), Lane, Pickles, Brown (86’ Simo), Vincent (71’ Dudley), Gray

Unused Subs | Kenyon

Manchester City Under-18s

XI | Wint, Thomas (46’ Headley), Drake, Mfuni (63’ Gorman), Naylor, Fapetu, Warhurst (75’ Heskey), Chingwaru, Fletcher, Oboavwoduo (C), Dunbar-McDonald (63’ Alcala)

Unused Subs | Whatmuff

WHAT’S NEXT

Our academy outfit are back in Under-18s Premier League North action again next weekend as we continue to build momentum ahead of the FA Youth Cup final. We travel down the M6 to play Stoke City at Clayton Wood.

Kick-off is scheduled for Saturday 4 May at 11:00 (UK).

Next Fixture

All fixtures

Sat 04 May

Premier League u18

Stoke

11:00

BST

Man City