U18s: City 1 United 3

Our young Reds were made to work hard for the three points, with Obi having hit the post twice inside the opening 45 minutes at the City Football Academy.

But Gabriel opened the scoring with a well-taken finish midway through the second half, before Obi doubled our advantage with a brilliant effort soon after.

Tyrone Samba pulled a goal back for the hosts inside the final five minutes, but Jim Thwaites rifled in a free-kick to make sure of another league success for United.

FIRST HALF

On a bitterly cold morning at City's footballing headquarters, Godwill Kukonki set the tempo early on with his driving runs down the left flank, teeing up Gabriel for his first strike of the game.

Samba then had a go from distance as both sides began to figure each other out inside the opening stages, with Cameron Byrne-Hughes watching the shot sail wide.

Gabriel's first set-piece after 15 minutes found Obi inside the box, only for his header to flash over, before another free-kick from the teenager was charged down well by City.

Kylan Midwood was then denied what looked to be a certain goal as his header looked bound to find the net, only for Byrne-Hughes to leap into the air and deny him.

Dante Headley then let fly as the Sky Blues looked to end the first half with a flurry, only for the United goalkeeper to stand in his way again.

Noah Ajayi beat his man well inside the final moments of the first period, picking out Obi inside the box, who saw his latest shot come back off the frame of the goal.

And yet there was still time for the ex-Arsenal striker to do the same again, as his free-kick was pushed onto the post by Ben Vickery.

SECOND HALF

Obi and Gabriel were getting closer as they continued to combine well at the front of the pitch. This time Obi played in his striker counterpart, only for Vickery to deny him.

Thwaites, on as a second-half substitute, saw yet another free-kick for the Reds hit the wall, with our advances continue to look promising.

A corner into the box from Thwaites was headed goalwards by Albert Mills, only for City's shot-stopper to stand in the way again, before the opening goal soon followed.

Obi wrestled possession back into his grasp as the hosts dithered with the ball, before he played in the ever-threatening Gabriel, who fired home to make it 1-0.

The Cityzens weren't giving up easily as they instantly looked for a response. Finlay Gorman rifled a strike from range that cannoned back off the bar, as the league leaders rose again.

But there was nothing they could do as Kukonki charged forward, playing a key part in our second goal of the game. Picking out Obi with his pass, the Dane raced through towards the net before carefully lofting an effort past Vickery to make it 2-0.

The action wasn't done there, however, as we reached the final five minutes. Reigan Heskey played in Samba, who whacked a shot into the top corner that set up a grandstand finish in the sly Mancunian sunshine.

But soon after, the game was sealed, with Obi fouled from 25 yards out. Thwaites stepped up from range, bending the set-piece into the top corner, completing a job well done on the road for Fletcher's side.

MATCH DETAILS

City: Vickery; Headley, Drake, Braithwaite, Barrett; Miles, Gorman; Dunbar-McDonald (Holt 77), Samba, Heskey; Midwood (Lamb 46).

Subs not used: Hudson, Tevenan, Oliver.

Goals: Samba 86.

United: Byrne-Hughes; Helafu, Mills, Armer, Kukonki; McCormack, McEvoy (Thwaites 46); Brown (Mantato 65), Gabriel (Watson 89), Ajayi (Bradbury 81); Obi.

Subs not used: Heath.

Goals: Gabriel 66, Obi 84, Thwaites 90.