City's Academy side had one of those days in their derby at Red Carrington and never recovered from a somewhat undeserved half-time score of 3-0 to the home side.

The Blues dominated the opening 15 minutes but could not capitalise, and instead it was United who took the lead after 17 minutes when left-back Sean McGinty's speculative cross sneaked in at the far post.

That blow against the run off play was compounded when the Reds doubled their lead after 36 minutes when Jesse Lingard was quickest to react in following up Van Velzen's header against the bar.

When Larnell Cole's volley from a corner was deflected in off the luckless Paul Clowes just before the break, the game was already slipping beyond the Boy Blues despite the even nature of first-half possession.

Cole's curling shot into the top corner after 53 minutes ended hopes of a second-half recovery, and Lawrence had scored United's fifth by the time substitute Bradley Robinson put City on the scoresheet after 86 minutes.

Man of the match midfielder Cole had the last word with a breakaway goal to complete his hat-trick in the 89th minute and finish off a lacklustre day the Under-18s will want to forget.