U18s Report: City 1 West Brom 0

Substitute Layton Nduwku’s 87th minute winner earned City three vital points after the young Foxes had dominated much of the second half, but were kept at bay until the latter stages of a hotly contested match. 

With the game looking as if it was heading for a goalless draw, Leicester winger Kyle Bailey pinched the ball from the Baggies defence and broke free on the right-hand side. 

Bailey found Nduwku with an inch-perfect delivery and the City striker, who had only been on the pitch for a matter of minutes, calmly finished from close-range, handing Leicester the win. 

After a cautious start to the game, the first clear-cut chance fell to West Bromwich Albion with 14 minutes on the clock. 

Baggies forward Joe Ward attacked the Foxes defence and found space for a dangerous curled strike, but Leicester ‘keeper Liam Sharpe was equal to it, and produced a stunning save to deny Ward in the top left-hand corner. 

As the game came to life, City had a fine chance to take the lead, first through striker Simonas Stankevicius’ header, and then right-back Dylan Casey with a fine drive from distance. 

Stankevicius was played in after lovely turn and cross from Bailey on the right-hand side, but his powerful header was well saved by Baggies ‘keeper Alex Palmer. 

With West Brom struggling to clear their lines, Casey pounced on the loose ball and fired a powerful drive from distance, but Palmer was again up to the task, smartly tipping over. 

Leicester started the second half with real energy and were unfortunate not to take the lead on 55 minutes. 

Ben Chilwell’s accurate delivery from a free-kick found City skipper Herve Pepe-Ngoma unmarked in the box, but his powerful header was again well-saved by the impressive Palmer. 

The Foxes kept the Baggies at bay for the majority of the second half and continued to press for that elusive first goal. 

Leicester were finally rewarded for their hard work with just three minutes of the match remaining, substitute Nduwku grabbing the winner after excellent play from Bailey on the right-hand side.

Nduwku had only been on the pitch for five minutes, and his powerful run into the box was rewarded as Bailey’s excellent low delivery found him unmarked, and the City youngster coolly slotted home to hand Leicester an important victory. 

Next up for City’s U18s is a trip to face Chelsea on Saturday 1 March. 

CITY: Sharpe, Casey, Chilwell, Moore (Jones, 80), Pepe-Ngoma, Dineen (Dombrauskis, 86), Bailey, Miles, Stankevicius, Rowe, Olukanmi (Nduwku, 80) 

SUBS NOT USED: Smith-Varnham, Dusabe 

WEST BROM: Palmer, Donnellon, Smart, Pace, Jones, Howkins (Oldnall, 80), Leko, Nabi, Wright, (Hallahan, 65), Ward, Wedderburn 

SUBS NOT USED: Ross, Buchanan, Jones