Manchester United's Under-18s extended our perfect start to the season with an accomplished 4-0 victory at Wolves on Saturday.
The young Reds had a commanding lead at the interval as two goals in as many minutes at the end of the first half by James Bailey and Samuel Lusale added to Gabriel’s 13th-minute opener.
At a wet and windy Sir Jack Hayward Training Ground, Nathaniel-Junior Brown added to the advantage just after the hour mark after United capitalised on hesitancy in the Wolves defence.
Darren Fletcher’s side are now top of the Under-18 Premier League North table and are the only side in the division yet to concede a goal after five wins from five games - scoring 15 goals without reply.
FIRST HALF - UNITED IN FIRM COMMAND
The young Reds had a goal ruled out in the fourth minute as Amir Ibragimov volleyed home from close range, but he was adjudged to be offside from Gabriel’s pass.
At the other end, United stopper Fred Heath made a superb reaction save to thwart Jake Wilcox at the back post after the Wolves frontman met Elliot Saba’s searching cross.
The Reds worked another opening when captain Ibragimov clipped in a cross and Gabriel’s header from eight yards was straight at Alfie Arnold in the Wolves goal.
It was Gabriel who gave United a 13th-minute lead. After the Reds’ pressure forced Wolves to surrender possession, Brown cushioned a pass into Ibragimov, who slid a first-time ball through to the United no.9 and he applied a clipped finish over the advancing Arnold.
Gabriel threatened again five minutes later with a fierce right-footed strike from 20 yards which dipped in front of Arnold, who gathered at the second attempt.
The inclement conditions in Wolverhampton made it challenging for both teams as the Reds - wearing our white away kit - dominated for long periods.
We did, however, go into the interval with an advantage that reflected our control, thanks to two goals in a matter of minutes at the end of the first half.
Bailey’s low strike from the edge of the area found its way past Arnold into the bottom corner before, less than a minute later, Lusale got in behind the Wolves defence and poked home from an acute angle via a touch from the ‘keeper.
SECOND HALF - BROWN SEALS THE VICTORY
Wolves made a fast start and, inside the first 35 seconds, Mason Stevens fizzed in a low shot which forced Heath to make a save low down to his right.
It was an early sign of a more competitive second-half showing from the hosts, who had started the season with three defeats from their previous four league outings including a 5-1 reverse against Manchester City last time out.
Heath had to make another reflex stop to preserve his clean sheet, denying Jackson’s hooked effort from close range following a corner.
However, Richard Walker’s side could not prevent the Reds from increasing our advantage just after the hour mark as Brown calmly placed a side-footed finish into the bottom corner after good work from Bailey and Gabriel.
United - who had Ibragimov controversially booked for a perceived dive outside the penalty area - continued to boss possession and attack with purpose in search of further goals.
In stoppage time, Lusale poked wide with the outside of his right foot but the job had long been done to extend our perfect start to the campaign.
WHAT’S NEXT?
Our Under-18s return to action next Saturday (27 September) with a top-of-the-table clash against local rivals Manchester City at Carrington (kick-off 11:00 BST).
MATCH DETAILS
United: Heath; Helafu (J.Watson 70), McCormack, Mills, Kukonki; Ibragimov (c) (Shah 62), Thwaites (Ibrovic-Fletcher 70); Brown (Ajayi 70), Bailey, Lusale; Gabriel.
Substitutes not used: Z.Watson.
Goals: Gabriel 13, Bailey 45, Lusale 45+1, Brown 61
Booked: Saba (Wolves); Ibragimov (United)