U18s match summary: Leeds v United

The Reds were off the mark early in the first half courtesy of James Scanlon, before Bendito Mantato, Victor Musa and Amir Ibragimov contributed to a four-goal advantage at the midway point.

Another two goals each from Scanlon and Ibragimov after the break, sealing hat-tricks for the pair in the process, topped off another assured Saturday afternoon display for Adam Lawrence's side.

The young Reds got off to a good start thanks to Scanlon, who studiously watched the ball drop out of the sky from goalkeeper Owen Grainger's punch before hitting a driven volley into the bottom-right corner to open the scoring in the 10th minute.

Scanlon then turned provider on the half-hour mark, zipping a ball across the six-yard box for Mantato to poke home at the back post, despite heavy pressure from Leeds defender Joe Billett.

Mantato was back causing problems in the opposition box less than 10 minutes later, this time tempting Josh Hamilton to shove him off the ball and earning the Reds a penalty. Victor Musa shouldered the responsibility, calmly converting the spotkick and sending Grainger the wrong way in the process.

Ibragimov rounded off the half's action just over five minutes from the break, cleverly losing his marker from a corner and before nodding home an inviting delivery from Jim Thwaites.

Scanlon started the second half just how he began the first. Musa seized possession high up the pitch and quickly laid the ball off to our no.11, who curled in an effort from a tight angle just two minutes after the restart.

Substitute Chido Obi-Martin, introduced on the hour mark, quickly set about teeing up Ibragimov's second, evading his marker before invitingly fizzing the ball across the line for the midfielder to confirm our sixth.

Minutes later, Ibragimov was back among the action, benefitting from another substitute's delivery in Samuel Lusale, helpfully tipped on by Grainger, before falling to our no.10 to slot home at the back post, sealing United's seventh and his own hat-trick in the process.

Not content with just one Red taking home the match ball from the trip, Scanlon popped up seconds later to turn home the rebound of another Obi-Martin effort, registering a hat-trick of his own with the young Reds' final goal of the day.

MATCH DETAILS

United: Byrne-Hughes; Munro (Plunkett 75), Mills, Armer, Kukonki; Thwaites (Bailey 61), T.Fletcher; Mantato (Lusale 61), Ibragimov, Scanlon; Musa (Obi-Martin 61).

Subs not used: Murdock.

Goals: Scanlon 10, 47, 75, Mantato 29, Musa 35 (pen), Ibragimov 39, 67, 74.