U18s Report: Manchester City vs Leeds United | OneFootball

U18 Premier League North

Manchester City U18 5 (Samba 30’, 35’, Dunbar-McDonald 51’, pen 88’; Midwood 68’)

Leeds United U18 0

Manchester City: Hudson (GK), Headley, Drake (Wain 70’), Braithwaite (C), Tevenan (Whisker 77’), Miles (Parker 69’), Midwood, Gorman, Lamb, F Samba (T Samba 65’), Dunbar-McDonald. Sub not used: Mathieson (GK).

Leeds: Kenyon (GK), Firth (C), Philpott, Whitehead, Matykiewicz, Howard, Njinko (Morris 80’), Mills (Bridge 90’), Render, Mensah, White. Subs not used: Wood (GK), Simo, Alker.

Referee: Joseph Hind

Booked: Mensah (Leeds)

Venue: City Football Academy

A Floyd Samba first-half brace and three second-half strikes condemned Leeds United Under-18s to defeat in their opening U18 Premier League North fixture.

Conditions were bright but breezy at Manchester City’s training ground and the hosts looked to get on the front foot quickly.

Christian Dunbar-McDonald caused trouble down the left flank, combing with Samba before setting up Teddie Lamb who found his shot blocked well by Jacob Howard.

The pressure from the Sky Blues continued as moments later as Lamb went close again, smashing a left-footed shot into the side netting.

Rob Etherington’s youthful Whites looked to capitalise on the opposition’s early missed chances as Jacob Render drove towards the City goal and saw his strike diverted away from danger by Kaiden Braithwaite.

On the half hour mark, Finlay Gorman found Kylan Midwood who in turn fed Dante Headley. His drilled cross landed at the feet of Samba in space and he finished beyond George Kenyon.

Before the break, Headley again burst down the flank and delivered for Samba to double the advantage with a crisp finish from inside the area.

HALF TIME: Manchester City U18 2-0 Leeds United U18

United kicked off the second half but a goal inside the opening six minutes from Man City extinguished any momentum to get back into the game.

Lamb’s effort was blocked by Luke Matykiewicz but Dunbar-McDonald was on hand to pick up the loose ball and slot past Kenyon into the bottom right corner, making it 3-0.

Samba was denied a hat-trick after his shot from the edge of the box was charged down strongly by Callum Mills. Kenyon was also called into action to produce a strong one-on-one save to deny Lamb.

Despite the resilience of the Whites’ backline, City’s fourth arrived when Dunbar-McDonald’s cross was cleverly dummied by Lamb, leaving Midwood to tap in at the back post.

In the closing minutes of the game, the impressive Dunbar-McDonald added another for the hosts from the spot before referee Joseph Hind’s full-time whistle sounded.

Leeds will look to bounce back in their first home game of the season next weekend when they host Derby County at Thorp Arch.

FULL TIME: Manchester City U18 5-0 Leeds United U18