Heskey brace helps City U18s beat Forest | OneFootball

Top goal scorer, Reigan Heskey, hit a brace and marked his 15th goal this campaign as City’s Under-18s won 4-0 away at Nottingham Forest in the Under-18s Premier League North.

We couldn’t of wished for a better start, as Reigan Heskey converted a penalty three minutes into the match after the winger was fouled by Evan Boulter.

Samba doubled the lead on his debut for the Under-18s towards the end of the first-half, tapping in a spilled ball from Keethan Willows after a Dante Headley cross.

Matty Warhurst guided the ball into the back of the net before Heskey capped off the scoring with a curling effort, as City picked up another three points in the league.

WHAT HAPPENED

After progressing into the quarter-finals of the FA Youth Cup on Tuesday evening, Oliver Reiss’s side were in full confidence travelling to Nottingham Forest.

With second-placed, Manchester United, dropping points last weekend, there was an opportunity to solidify our position at the summit and City got off to a flying start.

Inside two minutes, Reigan Heskey won a penalty after being fouled by Evan Boulter inside the box and the Under-18s top scorer converted the spot kick to hand City an early lead.

Christian Dunbar-McDonald nearly doubled our lead moments later as he tried to steer the ball past Keethan Willows after some neat footwork to give him space, but it went narrowly wide.

Finally Gorman won the ball back in Forest’s defensive third and cushioned the ball to Matty Warhurst, who’s attempt from the edge of the box, travelled comfortably into Willow’s gloves.

During a period of pressure from the hosts, Fuad Smith powered forward with the ball before he brought Cormac Daly into play.

His cross was nearly guided in by Charlie Courtman, but it fortunately was directed straight to Max Hudson.

But before the half-time whistle, City were able to double our lead.

Dante Headley crossed the ball from the right and Willows spilled the ball and it landed to Tyrone Samba who tapped in his first goal on his maiden start for the Under-18s.

It could of been three as Dunbar-McDonald played Headley through, who had made a darting inverted run, but the full-back chose power over accuracy as the ball fired high and wide.

City continued to put pressure on Forest in the second-half, and half-time substitute, Divine Mukasa, had to have a half-volley tipped around the post by Willows.

A third goal was in our future on 72 minutes, as Dunbar-McDonald crossed perfectly into Matty Warhurst and the striker’s shot was too powerful for the Forest shot stopper to add to the scoreline.

Mukasa provided quality from the bench, as he set up Kaden Braithwaite on the edge of the box and his strike was matched by an outstretched Willows, who kept the ball out.

We were still probing the Forest goal, and were denied a fourth late on as a Heskey snapshot was blocked by Bubacarr Sanneh, before Mukasa’s header struck the crossbar.

But Heskey rounded off the scoring by securing his brace and his 15th goal this campaign in added time, after cutting inside and curling an effort past Willows as Reiss’s men comfortably swept the East Midlands outfit aside.

HOW WE LINED UP

Goalkeeper, Max Hudson, was selected to start and he was shielded by a back four of captain, Kaden Braithwaite, Kian Noble, Charlie Courtman and Dante Headley.

Harrison Miles anchored the midfield, with Finally Gorman and Tyrone Samba playing further up supporting the attack.

Matty Warhurst was positioned as a sole striker, supported by Christian Dunbar-McDonald and top goalscorer, Reigan Heskey.

FOREST XI | Willows, Sanneh (C), Bartley, Boulter, Broomes, Davies, Daly (87’ Hamilton), A Bradshaw, Powell, Smith (87’ Robinson), Brandy (90’ K Bradshaw)

SUBS | Bailey, Lokote

CITY XI | Hudson, Headley, Courtman (64’ Parker), Noble, Braithwaite (C), Miles (63’ Fapetu), Dunbar-McDonald, Gorman, Warhurst (73’ Fletcher), Samba (46’ Mukasa), Heskey

SUBS | Doran

WHAT IT MEANS

Victory for Oliver Reiss’s team means we remain in top spot in the Under-18s Premier League North on 40 points, three points above Manchester United on second place who have a game in hand over us.

The result also represented our 13th successive win in the league, and during that run we have scored a league high 61 goals and conceding only 11.

WHAT’S NEXT

City’s Under-18s face a tough assignment next weekend as we play host to Tyne and Wear outfit, Sunderland who are positioned 4th in the league.

Kick-off is scheduled for 12:30 (UK) on Saturday 22 February and CITY+ subscribers residing in the UK will be able to watch the action live.