U18s: United v Nottingham Forest

Chido Obi-Martin made his first United start in this meeting, following a move from Arsenal's academy in the summer, and didn't take long to open his Reds' account, netting his first goal before a minute had elapsed.

Another goal followed in the fifth minute, before clinching his hat-trick strike after quarter of an hour. He wasn't the only name among the goals, however, with James Scanlon and Amir Ibragimov notching a quickfire double just before the interval, leaving United five goals up at half-time.

The second half painted a much calmer picture, with the Reds happy to see out the win, but Jim Thwaites did extend the scoring in the final five minutes with a sublime free-kick to complete a thoroughly productive afternoon.

The referee's whistle had barely finished sounding when Obi-Martin netted his first goal on his full debut for the young Reds.

Seizing on an early loose ball from the Forest defence, the forward didn't need a second invitation, rushing towards the visitors goal before rounding Keehan Willows and opening the scoring with just 13 seconds played.

With Forest still reeling from that early setback, Obi-Martin was back applying further pressure with only five minutes on the clock, this time picking up a second ball following a block from the opposition's backline before letting off a driven shot of his own, putting United two up in the blink of an eye.

The young Reds' new striker wasn't for easing up after a lightning-quick start. Scanlon picked up the ball on the left flank and, after driving into the box, found Obi-Martin in a crowded penalty, who then dispatched a low shot with his left foot that evaded his markers and the goalkeeper to give Adam Lawrence's side a three-goal advantage.

It was then Scanlon's turn to print his name on the scoresheet five minutes from half-time, adventuring in-field from his left-wing berth on this occasion. He looked up and saw a route to goal so drilled an effort from outside the penalty area which wrong-footed Willows and sealed the Reds' fourth.

Rounding off a confident first-half display from United, Ibragimov made the most of a miscommunication in the Forest defence on the edge of the six-yard box, rushing in to bundle home our fifth of the game.

With a sizeable lead established, Lawrence opted to withdraw Obi-Martin, Daniel Armer and Jayce Fitzgerald to introduce James Bailey, Albert Mills and Victor Musa for the second half.

The second period was a much calmer affair than the frantic first, and United goalkeeper Cameron Byrne-Hughes was called into action more frequently, but he stood equal to the challenge on each occasion.

United looked to be winding down in the final 10 minutes after getting the biggest bulk of the work done in the first half, but Thwaites had other ideas.

From outside the box, he expertly lifted a free-kick over the Forest wall and into the very top-left corner of the goal, leaving a diving Willows with no hope of reaching it.

It was a spectacular finish to round off a spectacular all-round display from the young Reds at Carrington.

MATCH DETAILS

United: Byrne-Hughes; Fitzgerald (Mills 46), Munro, Armer, Plunkett; Thwaites, T.Fletcher (Bailey 46); Lacey (Lusale 56), Ibragimov, Scanlon; Obi-Martin (Musa 46).

Subs not used: Murdock.

Goals: Obi-Martin 1, 5, 15, Scanlon 40, Ibragimov 45, Thwaites 86.