U18s report: United v Middlesbrough

Darren Fletcher's side were in home action for the first time this season and made a quick start when Bendito Mantato opened the scoring after 23 minutes.

Our lead soon grew to two when Gabriel finished smartly from close range, after some impressive play in the build-up by Sam Lusale.

In the second half, the young Reds continue to pile on the pressure, with Amir Ibragimov netting the best goal of the game, curling a drive into the top corner from 30 yards.

Further gloss was soon added, as Gabriel, and then Rooney, completed a five-star performance, scoring our fourth and fifth goals respectively.

FIRST HALF

Gabriel was slipped in by Mantato with the game only two minutes old, as the Reds piled on the early pressure. His shot was subsequently just wide of the target.

Lusale hit the post soon after as Fletcher's side flexed our early muscle, before the opening goal of the game arrived soon after.

Mantato drove forward with real tenacity with Tyler Smith unable to stop him. Upon reaching the box, he waited patiently for the right moment, before wrong-footing Joseph Richardson to net the game's opener.

Gabriel then made it two after 38 played, with James Bailey unlocking the defence with a sublime pass beforehand. Bailey found Lusale, who couldn't find the required finish, before Gabriel was on hand to convert from close range.

Jim Thwaites went close to make it three as the half-time interval approached. His near-post header was just too high following Ibragimov's smart corner.

Oliver Martin's header for Boro didn't trouble Cameron Byrne-Hughes in the visitors only chance of the half.

And there was still time for one more effort from Mantato late into stoppage time, as his one-on-one was well dealt with by Richardson.

SECOND HALF

Gabriel was proving tricky to deal with as he showed early on in the second half. His low drive was palmed away by Boro's ever-busy goalkeeper with 50 on the clock.

Upon the hour mark, United had a third, with captain Ibragimov scoring a real collector's item from range. Receiving the ball from Lusale, the skipper powered an effort into the top corner, much to the delight of his team-mates.

Gabriel made it four shortly after, but all the credit for this one has to go to Thwaites and Mantato. A long switch from Thwaites found Mantato in acres of space on the right, before he cut inside to play in Gabriel. Twisting and turning, the forward smashed home to grab his second of the encounter.

United introduced a raft of changes but that didn't stop the scoring, with sub Rooney scoring our fifth of the afternoon shortly after his introduction.

Mantato was involved again, as he drove to the byline before crossing into the air. The ball fell fortuitously to Rooney, who smashed his shot into the ground, deflecting off a Boro shirt and into the net soon after.

Fellow substitute Junior Brown had the final chance of the game. The winger curled an effort wide of the mark, but it was already job done, and three more points on the board for our Under-18s.

MATCH DETAILS

United: Byrne-Hughes; Overy (Watson, 60), McCormack, Mills, Kukonki; Thwaites (Brown, 70), Bailey, Ibragimov (Shah, 70); Mantato, Gabriel, Lusale (Brown, 60).

Subs not used: Heath.

Goals: Mantato, Gabriel (2), Ibragimov, Rooney.