JJ Gabriel shows trickery and fire power as Man Utd U18s beat Newcastle 3-0

JJ Gabriel again shone as Manchester United Under-18s beat Newcastle United in the U18 Premier League even if he wasn't on the scoresheet.

The highly-rated youngster lit up the game with his runs and shots especially in the first half as United cruised to victory.

Two goals from Nkoto and another from Noah Ajayi made sure of the points on a rainy occasion throughout.

The result will help provide a huge boost heading into Tuesday's huge FA Youth Cup clash with Peterborough.

Jim Thwaites hit a curling shot after nine minutes which was palmed away by George Mair, with Mantato also denied on the follow up.

A solid run forward from Nathaniel Brown came next, with the winger getting the better of Henry Johnson, before also seeing his shot saved by Mair.

Gabriel tried his luck from range, his strike was straight at the busy Mair, with the 16-year-old also doing well to palm the rebound away from Louie Bradbury.

Godwill Kukonki was the next to come forward as we reached the 24-minute mark, with the defender teeing up Gabriel, who again was denied.

United continued in the same vein as the second period began, with Mantato's early drive charged down by Isaac Moran.

Kukonki was proving a particular tormentor as his pace and power was proving too much over on the left-hand side.

The teenager was involved as we took the lead on 53 minutes, with his shot saved and eventually falling to Nkoto, who had the easiest of tasks to tap home.

One quickly became two, and it was Nkoto again, with Kukonki involved in winning the first contact from a free-kick, before the United youngster was in the right place again to notch his second.

Kukonki nearly got his reward as we reached 70 minutes, with another brilliant dribble and subsequent shot in the box almost finding the far corner, before sailing agonisingly wide of the post.

But there was still time for one more, as Newcastle were caught overplaying at the back. Nkoto unselfishly squared the ball for Ajayi, who finish with aplomb to make it three.

Goalkeeper Mair came flying out of his goal to stop Kukonki soon after, with Moran eventually clearing our follow-up effort off the line to prevent a fourth.

The final action of an exciting game saw Nkoto stopped from grabbing the match ball, forcing a final save from the impressive Magpies shot-stopper.