City’s route to the Under-18 Premier League North title | OneFootball

After the first two games of the 2024/25 season, some could have been forgiven for assuming that City's new, young cohort of Under-18s would focus on development and not the prospect of an exciting title race.

A goalless draw at Leeds United kicked off the campaign and was swiftly followed by a disappointing 2-0 defeat at the hands of the title defenders Manchester United.

But, in the 21 matches that followed, perhaps not even Lead Coach Oliver Reiss and his squad would have anticipated a remarkable 21-game winning streak that would see City seal the Under-18 Premier League North title with one game to go.

To celebrate the team’s fourth North title in five seasons, we take a look at five key results that helped turn the tide on our route to silverware…

EVERTON 0-4 CITY – 1 SEPTEMBER 2024

The win that began it all.

From kick-off it was evident the team had a fire in their collective belly and were hungry to open our goalscoring account.

WATCH: U18 title win like a Hollywood movie, says Reiss

After dominating the game Matty Warhurst bagged our first goal of the campaign – and eight months later little did he know he would also score the goal that would see us claim the title.

Divine Mukasa doubled City's advantage before the Toffees were reduced to 10. Reigan Heskey and a second for Warhurst completed the victory that was just the confidence booster our young boys in blue needed.

CITY 7-1 NEWCASTLE – 30 NOVEMBER 2024

Win number seven included a magnificent seven strikes against the Magpies.

City’s top goal scorer Heskey showed no signs of slowing down in front of goal, in fact it took him just eight minutes to fire us ahead at the City Football Academy.

WATCH: Extended highlights: City Under-18s 7-1 Newcastle Under-18s

Finlay Gorman, Ryan McAidoo and Dante Headley made it four before the break in what was shaping up to be our most clinical performance of the campaign.

A slight lapse in concentration defensively saw Logan Watts spoil hopes of a clean sheet, but it wouldn’t dampen the spirit of the day.

Seconds later, Mukasa scored a goal of the season contender. The No. 10 spotted the Newcastle keeper was far off his line and fancied his luck. Mukasa smashed the kick-off from the centre spot straight over all 11 Newcastle players and into the back of the net!

He would then go on to complete his hat-trick in what was City's biggest victory of the season.

MANCHESTER UNITED 0-4 CITY – 1 FEBRUARY 2025

Our trip to Carrington would likely decide who would top the table. Both teams had won every game in 2025 with that narrative set to change come full-time.

City, despite being the same squad which had suffered a defeat to United earlier in the season, looked rejuvenated, with the last encounter very much a moment forgotten in time.

Reiss’ team were the better side from the first whistle and found a deserved lead through 16-year-old McAidoo who has certainly enjoyed his first season in the Club’s Academy.

WATCH: Extended highlights: Manchester United U18s 0-4 City Under-18s

Further goals from Heskey, Stephen Mfuni and Luca Fletcher confirmed the derby bragging rights for City, but it wouldn’t have been possible without the defensive fortitude of Matty Henderson-Hall, Harrison Parker, Kian Noble and Rhys Thomas keeping one of the most in-form attacking lines silent.

CITY 2-0 SUNDERLAND – 22 FEBRUARY 2025

The first of what would end up being a difficult run of five league games that City would have to navigate to earn the right to be crowned North winners.

A 2-0 triumph can often paint a picture of a comfortable outing. But our home clash with the Black Cats was far from that.

WATCH: Extended highlights: City U18s 2-0 Sunderland

Mukasa and McAidoo gave City a two-goal lead after just six minutes. But the remaining 84 minutes saw Reiss’ side fight tooth and nail to keep the three points.

Headley, Parker, Noble and Kaden Braithwaite were the busiest players on the pitch, fending off relentless waves of Sunderland attacks. As the full-time whistle rang around the CFA, there was a huge sigh of relief from the team as we added a 14th successive win to the list.

Narrow wins over Wolves (2-0), Stoke (2-1), Blackburn (2-0) and Wolves again (3-0) showed a different side to City’s game – that we were capable of churning out results when not enjoying as much possession.

CITY 4-3 DERBY COUNTY – 26 APRIL 2025

The most dramatic game of the season came in the penultimate match of the campaign.

After United’s 4-4 draw at Everton earlier in the day, City knew three points in our final home fixture would see us crowned North champions.

But things definitely didn’t go as planned. Owen Eames and Demaine Agustien gave Derby a 2-0 lead six minutes before the break, a scenario City hadn’t encountered since our defeat to United way back in August.

But Reiss’ team were determined to succeed and Gorman’s goal just before the break gave us a spark of belief.

WATCH: Extended highlights: City U18s 4-3 Derby

Substitute McAidoo fired a rocket into the Derby net to draw us level before Warhurst gave City the lead for the first time on 79 minutes.

The title celebrations looked set to get underway at full-time but Tristan Gill’s goal on 87 minutes put a firm pause on proceedings.

Tired but still hungry to succeed, with one final high press, City stole the ball from Derby and waiting to pounce was Warhurst who fired home on the half turn.

The celebrations were chaotic as the players and coaching staff piled on to each other as City won the Under-18 Premier League North title.