West Brom u18s 0 Manchester City u18s 6: FA Youth Cup run ends after fine run

The visitors struck six to no reply but the scoreline was tough on Leigh Downing's teens as City twice rattled in quickfire goals just before the interval and shortly into the second period.

Albion otherwise held their own in large spells against talented opposition, the likes of who have made senior debuts under Pep Guardiola and even trained in England's senior reckoning.

It ended quite the run in the competition for the Baggies prospects, who saw off Harrogate, Stoke and Norwich last time out to reach the last eight, their best run in the competition for three years.

City thrashed Leeds 4-0 at the Etihad Stadium in last year's final and are comfortably top of the under-18s northern table with Albion at the foot of the southern equivalent.

Several in blue and white stripes did themselves justice in the tough assignment and will hope to transform form into league action.

City started ominously as Finlay Gorman, the visitors' star who went on to fire in a hat-trick, sent an early effort wide. Albion struggled to get out for 10 or 15 minutes.

But Downing's hosts settled admirably into the contest. Left winger Divine Onyemachi shot wide across goal and sent a volley over the top as Downing's youngsters held their own.

City's pressure had waned by the time striker Matthew Warhurst tapped into an empty net after Albion goalkeeper Louis Brady superbly tipped on to the post from Gorman.

A one-goal deficit was what the hosts deserved for the interval but instead they shipped two more in four minutes of stoppage time.

Stephen Mfuni converted a back post header from a corner via the unlucky Brady before midfielder Gorman dispatched an excellent pinpoint low drive from 25 yards into the bottom right corner.

Divine Mukasa clipped the crossbar with a clever chip just after the restart but, undeterred, the Baggies went mightily close through half-time substitute Harry French's fierce half-volley.

City were ruthless though as the impressive Gorman found the top corner from 18 yards before Reigan Heskey, son of Emile, lashed in across goal seconds later for five.

Albion were worthy of a goal in front of a decent home attendance as the busy Onyemachi struck wide via a deflection and Italian midfielder Dauda Iddrisa - fresh from signing his first professional contract today - fired wide.

Iddrisa was one of a few young Baggies to catch the eye, as well as left-back Adam Letlat and centre-back pair Rhys Morrish and Noah Dupont, who kept going despite the deficit.

Starlet Ollie Bostock, who regularly stars for the under-21s, made his injury comeback in the final 20 minutes. Other under-18s and would-be regular starters Cole Deeming and Matty Crowther, both midfielders, missed out with injury.

England youth international attacking midfielder Gorman, the tie's standout performer, completed his hat-trick in stoppage time after Albion's Dupont had twice cleared off the line.

Albion u18s (4-3-3): Brady; Maughan, Morrish (c), Dupont, Letlat (Cherchi, 86); Iddrisa, Blackshields (Shaw, 86), Colesby (French, 45); Parmar (Bostock, 69), Okorodudu (German-Ranger, 69), Onyemachi.

Subs not used: Abudu, Moses.

Man City u18s: Whatmuff, Parker, Noble, Mfuni, Braithwaite (Fapetu, 64), Miles (Fletcher, 64), McAidoo (Dunbar-McDonald, 45), Gorman, Warhurst (Headley, 64), Mukasa (F Samba, 75), Heskey.

Subs not used: Hudson, T Samba.

Attendance: 670

Referee: Declan Bourne