Louie Bradbury, Gabriel and Noah Ajayi scored a brace each to fire Manchester United to a 6-1 win over Derby County in the Under-18 Premier League.
Darren Fletcher's side, watched by Michael Carrick, his coaching staff and former Reds Wayne Rooney and John O'Shea, were in good form at Carrington and pulled clear of the spirited visitors.
Cameron Byrne-Hughes also saved a penalty from Rams striker Israel Green in the second half, as United closed the gap on leaders Manchester City to a point, even if the Blues have games in hand.
FIRST HALF - REDS GAIN CONTROL
United started with purpose, Bradbury shooting wide early on, and were in front come the sixth minute. Derby keeper Cristiano Dzialuk only got a touch to a corner that was sent across goal by Jay McEvoy, at full stretch, and Bradbury was on hand to tap in his fifth goal of the season for the Under-18s.
Some neat approach work by Ajayi led to Jacob Watson forcing a low save out of Dzialuk but the visitors drew level in the 27th minute, following a free-kick. Green fed Luca Crolla and, when Albert Mills cleared off the line, Sean Corry was on hand to force home an equaliser.
The lively Gabriel had three attempts before being presented with the chance to regain the lead from the penalty spot. Ajayi's run into the box teased a foul out of Darnelle Thomas and Gabriel smashed his spot-kick high into the net.
There was still time for Ajayi to add a third, before the break, as he latched onto a touch by Gabriel, from Mills's long ball, and unleashed a venomous drive that left Dzialuk with no chance.
SECOND HALF - DOUBLES ALL ROUND
Fletcher's side managed to get a stranglehold on proceedings and it soon became a matter of how many goals the Reds could score.
Derby defended well for a spell, aside from allowing Jariyah Shah to fire over a decent opening, but the pressure began to tell. McEvoy tested Dzialuk before Gabriel was twice unable to supply the finish, on the back of lovely slaloming dribbles past opponents.
In the 66th minute, Yuel Helafu found Gabriel and, although Kacey Gill made a good tackle, Bradbury pounced on the loose ball to fire in a shot that entered the net, despite Dzialuk managing to get a hand to it.
The Rams' response was gallant as, two minutes later, Zayne Blake was fouled by Byrne-Hughes as he made his way past the keeper. Our no.1 protested his innocence, and may have had a case, but dived to his left to clutch Green's penalty anyway, to deflate the East Midlanders.
It did not take long for Gabriel to get his second, collecting Dan Armer's skidding pass and, when the defence backed off, he did not need a second invitation to blast emphatically past Dzialuk.
Ajayi shot over the bar before making no mistake for number six, schoolboy substitute Rooney claiming the assist, but it was largely the winger's work, as he dribbled goalwards, feinted inside Crolla magnificently and slipped in a calm finish.
Gabriel tried to tee up Rooney late on, but he was unable to meet the ball on the slide, as this was a polished performance by the young Reds.
MATCH DETAILS
United: Byrne-Hughes; Helafu, Mills, Armer (c), J. Watson; McEvoy (McCormack 76), Shah (D. Nkoto 59); Brown (B. Nkoto 70), Gabriel, Ajayi; Bradbury (Rooney 70).
Sub not used: Heath.
Scorers: Bradbury 6,67 Gabriel 41 (pen),73 Ajayi 45,81
Booked: McEvoy.
Derby: Dzialuk; Thomas (Taylor 67), Crolla, Doyle (Connor 74), Hodges; Griffiths (Onwukwe 74), Gill, Myers (Blake 46); Corry, Green, Clarke.
Sub not used: Rees.
Scorer: Corry 28.
Booked: Clarke.