Manchester United's Under-18s maintained our winning record so far in 2026 by seeing off Wolves at Carrington on Saturday.
Fine finishes from Gabriel and Noah Ajayi in the space of two first-half minutes put the young Reds in control.
As Wolves improved after the break, Mason Stevens halved the deficit in the 80th minute to make for a nervy finale but Gabriel’s stoppage-time penalty clinched the victory.
It ensures Darren Fletcher’s side continue to keep pace with leaders Manchester City, who won 5-3 at Newcastle United, at the top of the U18 Premier League North table.
FIRST HALF - TWO QUICKFIRE GOALS FOR UNITED
As the training ground basked in some welcome wintry sunshine, United - showing seven changes from the midweek Youth Cup win at Oxford - had to be patient to find a way through a resolute Wolves side, who were smarting from a thumping 7-0 defeat at Manchester City on Tuesday.
With first-team head coach Michael Carrick, assistant coach Steve Holland and Academy director Stephen Torpey all watching from the sideline, it was another opportunity for the players to catch their eye.
And Gabriel showed another glimpse of his capabilities by opening the scoring in the 24th minute, wriggling away from three Wolves defenders inside the box before rifling in an unstoppable left-footed shot from a tight angle via the underside of the crossbar.
It got better for the Reds just two minutes later. Douka Nkoto and Jariyah Shah combined to win possession in a dangerous area and it was moved on quickly by Louie Bradbury into the path of Ajayi, who shifted the ball onto his left foot and guided a low finish into the bottom corner with the aid of the post to make it 2-0.
There was a fortunate escape for Wolves when goalkeeper Alfie Arnold spilled Nkoto’s 20-yard shot into the six-yard box, where Bradbury tried to force the loose ball home but Elliott Saba just about managed to clear it to safety for the visitors.
United continued to threaten and hit the woodwork twice in the space of a few minutes just before the break. Captain Dan Armer saw his close-range header from Jay McEvoy’s free-kick clip the top of the crossbar, which was rattled again soon after by a venomous right-footed drive by Gabriel from the right channel of the penalty area.
SECOND HALF - GABRIEL’S PENALTY SEALS VICTORY
The action largely followed the same pattern after the interval with United continuing to dominate proceedings, but an improved Wolves offered more of an attacking threat and forced several corners which were well dealt with by the Reds.
Our opponents from the West Midlands - who are second from bottom in the U18 Premier League North table - mustered their first attempt at goal on 51 minutes, which Mason Stevens fired over from distance.
At the other end, Gabriel thought he had scored his second and United’s third but it was ruled out as he was adjudged to have handled the ball after intercepting goalkeeper Arnold’s attempted pass and stroking the ball into the net.
The chances kept coming for the Reds as Ajayi directed a header off target from a delivery by Gabriel, who also flashed a low shot wide of the post.
Shah unleashed a fizzing drive from 22 yards which zipped across the turf and forced Arnold to turn the ball around the post, and Bradbury went even closer to adding to our advantage with a flicked header from Douka Nkoto’s centre but it dropped inches wide of the far post.
Against the run of play, Wolves reduced the arrears 10 minutes from time as Stevens collected Jake Wilcox’s pass, turned away from Armer inside the box and poked the ball past Fred Heath.
With the outcome suddenly hanging in the balance, the game opened up in the closing stages but the young Reds made the three points safe in stoppage time. Watson was caught late and, after referee Mark Reeves played an advantage, sub Bassirou Nkoto was felled in the box by Wolves captain Oliver Stafford, who was shown a yellow card.
After the injured Watson had to leave the field, Gabriel stepped up to confidently place the penalty into the corner of the net to the keeper’s left to seal a seventh successive victory for United in all competitions.
Our Under-18s are at home again on Wednesday (25 February) when Derby County are the visitors to Carrington, with kick-off at 13:00 GMT.
MATCH DETAILS
United: Heath; Helafu (Brown 64), Mills, Armer (c), J.Watson; McEvoy; D.Nkoto (Kukonki 86), Shah, Gabriel, Ajayi (B.Nkoto 73); Bradbury.
Subs not used: Z.Watson, McCormack.
Goals: Gabriel 24, 90+3 (pen), Ajayi 26 | Stevens 80
Booked: Stafford (Wolves)