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Man United U18 0-3 Chelsea U18: Blues win their fourth trophy of the season

  /  autty

Chelsea confirmed their dominance of England's youth football scene by completing an unprecedented Quadruple of trophies as Manchester United were brushed aside in the Under-18 Premier League National Final.

The Blues side, managed by former player Jody Morris, had won the FA Youth Cup, the southern section of the Under-18 Premier League and the Under-18 Premier League Cup prior to this.

And goals from Dujon Sterling, Billy Gilmour and Tariq Lamptey left the northern section champions United comprehensively beaten at the Leigh Sports Village.

It also ensures that Chelsea will return to the UEFA Youth League, the continental competition for under-19 teams, next season regardless of whether Antonio Conte's first team finish in the Premier League top four.

They will enter the Youth League's Domestic Champions Path, which merges with the main tournament draw at a play-off round prior to the last-16.

Morris had taken care to ensure his squad retained absolute focus after winning the Youth Cup for the fifth consecutive season with a 7-1 aggregate demolition of Arsenal.

And that was very much in evidence as Sterling handed them an early lead on four minutes, slotting home after United's defence failed to clear their lines following Callum Hudson-Odoi's cross from the left.

United pressed for an equaliser with Chelsea keeper Jamie Cumming making important saves from Nishan Burkart and then Angel Gomes to preserve the lead.

Mason Greenwood, United's highly-regarded schoolboy striker, showed his skills to get a shot away from the edge of the box, forcing Cumming to dive low and turn it around the post.

Shortly before half-time, Chelsea's Reece James made an important block to thwart Greenwood as United attacked with speed and purpose in search of an equaliser.

But that didn't materialise and the reigning Premier League champions doubled their lead on the hour mark. George McEachran clipped a free-kick from the right into Gilmour outside the box and his volley found the far corner.

And any hope of a United fightback was killed off seven minutes later when Lamptey slammed his shot into the roof of the net from a tight angle after Charlie Brown's pass.

Chelsea did play out the final minutes with just 10 men after Gilmour picked up two bookings in quick succession, but it made little difference to the final outcome as Chelsea triumphed yet again.