City's Under-18s bounced back from their defeat at Newcastle with a comprehensive 5-0 victory over Middlesbrough at Platt Lane on Saturday.

The Boy Blues have had a mixed start to the season but their form against Boro was a delight for approving Academy Manager Andy Welsh, flanked by Brian Kidd and Steve Eyre.

They came out of the blocks with such gusto, and playing at a high tempo, that the contest was over well before eager City had established a 4-0 half-time lead.

John Gudetti snapped up the opening goal after 15 minutes with a cross-shot that took a deflection, and skipper Ahmed Benali grabbed a solo second after 22 minutes, wriggling into the box to score with his left.

Gudetti added the third following a fine move that ran to as many as a dozen passes, and the fourth five minutes before the break saw Tommy Smith first to the loose ball after the referee might have awarded a penalty to the upended Harry Bunn.

Bunn got his reward for a hard-working match after 70 minutes with a fine individual fifth goal. But Welsh and Co will be just as pleased with the clean sheet at the back.