U18s Report: Leicester City 5 Southampton 1

- Admiral Muskwe scored a second hat-trick in two games 

- Muskwe took his tally to 11 goals in just eight 2015/16 appearances 

- Young Foxes recorded a fifth victory in eight Barclays U18 Premier League fixtures 

A second consecutive hat-trick from Admiral Muskwe helped Leicester City’s Under-18s to a dominant Barclays U18 Premier League win against Southampton at Belvoir Drive on Saturday. 

After an even opening period, it was young winger Josh Eppiah who broke the deadlock with a sublime finish from just inside the box on 20 minutes. 

Eppiah doubled City’s lead with an instinctive flick on shortly after, before Muskwe grabbed his first of the game just before the break. 

A well-worked fourth goal was then rounded off by Muskwe as the game approached the hour mark and the striker completed his treble with three minutes to play after Southampton had pulled one back through Thomas O’Connor. 

The young Foxes had lost just once in their opening seven U18 Premier League fixtures – that defeat coming against Chelsea last month - and it was the goalscoring exploits of Muskwe who earned his side a point in a 3-3 draw against Reading last time out as the striker netted a hat-trick to take his tally to eight for the season. 

In the early stages of the campaign, Under-18s manager Trevor Peake challenged his youngsters to be more clinical with their attacks – they certainly did that against Southampton on Saturday. 

Some good defending from Michael Kelly and Josh Knight kept the visiting side at bay early on, before City shot-stopper Max Bramley was on hand to collect Carel Kayembe’s low effort. 

The hosts thwarted much of the Saints attack in the opening stages and eventually went on to take the lead through Eppiah. The winger picked up the ball 18 yards from goal, took a touch to set himself and curled in with his left foot to break the deadlock. 

Midfielder Harvey Barnes then slipped in Muskwe, who drew a good save from Southampton goalkeeper Harry Lewis, but City wouldn’t have to wait much longer for their second goal. 

Centre back Knight did well to head a loose ball back into the box and Eppiah was on hand to nod in past Lewis for his second of the game. 

Lewis denied Barnes just moments later with a good stop, before Muskwe made it 3-0 four minutes before the break. Midfielder Toby Fura nodded down Eppiah’s cross for the frontman, who applied a superb finish after a neat first touch. 

Leicester continued their positive attacking intent in the second period and an excellent one-two between Eppiah and Barnes saw the latter cross to Muskwe. Despite being under pressure from his defender, Muskwe slotted in for his brace with 57 minutes on the clock. 

The lively Barnes went close again on 71 minutes as the tricky youngster darted into the box, only to see his chipped effort float just wide of the mark.

The Saints did pull one back with 14 minutes to play as O’Connor converted from a tight angle to beat Bramley, but Leicester were on target again late on to restore their four-goal cushion. 

A pin-point cross from the flank by right back Elliott Percival was met by Muskwe, who powered in a header from close range for his second hat-trick in two games. That goal also saw the forward take his tally to an impressive 11 strikes in just eight 2015/16 games. 

Leicester currently occupy second position in the U18 Premier League ahead of their trip to Arsenal on Saturday 10 October (11.30am kick-off). 

CITY: Bramley, Percival, Kelly, Dewsbury-Hall, Knight (Pascanu 76), Johnson (c), Fura, Barnes, Mitchell, Muskwe (Arlott-John 87), Eppiah (Templeton 65) 

SUBS NOT USED: Yates, Gruno 

GOALS: Eppiah 20, 38, Muskwe 41, 57, 87 

SOUTHAMPTON: Lewis, Bakary, Cull, O’Connor, Cook, Jones, Kayembe, Lea, N’Lundulu, Olomola (c), Wilkin 

GOAL: O’Connor 76 

REFEREE: Simon Kavanagh