U18's Rampant Again v Boro

[Deepest Blue]

Paolo Fernandes scored twice to help City u18s come from behind and thump Middlesbrough 6-1 in the North East.
Jason Wilcox’s young side, missing a number of regular starters, conceded the first goal to the hosts midway through the first half, but City’s tricky Spaniard grabbed a brace before half time to turn the game on its head.

City controlled the second 45 minutes and didn’t hesitate to add to their tally – Javairo Dilrosun, Jacob Davenport, Isaac Buckley and Zac Faour all wrote their names onto the scoresheet, as for the second week in a row City fired six past an opposition defence wholly ill-equipped to deal with their attacking menace.

The u18s have lost just once so far this term, and have netted 28 times in 11 games as they continue to reap the benefits of a City Football Academy education.

Wilcox made four changes from the side that started the 6-1 demolition of Newcastle United two weeks' ago, as players continue to be called up to the EDS squad.

Kjetil Haug was between the sticks while there was a welcome start for Joe Coveneyin the centre of defence on his return from injury. Buckley led the line while Dilrosun took up his favoured position on the left wing opposite Fernandes.

It was a closely-contested opening and Boro landed the first blow – Mitchell Curry tucking the ball past Haug after finding some space on the City right hand side.

However, the young Blues soon began to make their mark on the game, particularly the excellent Fernandes, who had already been denied twice by keeper Pears before he was rewarded with the equaliser after 36 minutes with a brilliant turn and finish.

Minutes later the Spaniard had his and City’s second. Demeaco Duhaney’s attacking impetus resulted in a penalty after the full back was brought down, and although Pears was able to keep out Fernandes’ spot kick, he could only put the ball back at the no.7s feet and this time he made no mistake.

While Boro might have felt slightly aggrieved at going into the break behind, especially after seeing Coveney clear a certain goal off the line, the second half was all City and they never really looked in danger of surrendering the lead.

Two goals in five minutes ensured game over by the hour as first Dilrosun converted from a long ball over the top before Davenport met Callum Bullock’s corner for the fourth of the afternoon.

Fully adept at a dangerous corner delivery, Bullock made Boro pay again before long, this time it was Buckley who benefited from another teasing ball into the box and he was able to calmly sidefoot into the back of the net for the goal his performance deserved.

The scoreline didn’t flatter City, who ran their opposing defenders into the ground throughout the second half with their neat interplay and quick passing. It was left to Faour to add the gloss late on with a finish from close range to capitalise on some brilliant build up by Sadou Diallo and Jadon Sancho.

A tricky trip to Liverpool is next up for the u18s, who will now travel down the M62 full of confidence and looking to extend their rich vein of scoring form against a side also competing at the top end of the table.

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Match details
Saturday 24 October 2015, 1:00PM
Rockcliffe Park, Darlington
Barclays Premier Academy League

Teams
Middlesbrough:
Pears, Hegarty, Reading, Cook, McGoldrick, Renton, Liddell, Pattison, Curry, Hetherington, Lambert.

Manchester City:
Haug, Bullock, Coveney (Latibeaudiere 61), Oliver, Duhaney, Davenport, Diallo, Dele-Bashiru, Fernandes (Sancho 67), Buckley, Dilrosun (Faour 71).




Info taken from OS, mods please delete if infringes CoC.