Goals from Alex Tchuimeni-Nimely and Abdi Ibrahim gave City’s Elite Development Squad a 2-0 win over Aston Villa in the Barclays Premier Reserve League at Hyde this evening.

The visitors were reduced to ten men as Andy Welsh’s young side got their league campaign off to the perfect start following successive Manchester Senior Cup losses against experienced Bolton and Manchester United sides, respectively.

As the sun was setting in Hyde, City’s EDS took to the field with Kelvin Etuhu and Donal McDermott returning to the Blues after loan spells away for most of last season.

City started the livelier with some good interplay between Scott Kay and Ibrahim, but it the visitors who thought they’d gone ahead first, only to see their effort  ruled out for an infringement

Villa then lost Lichaj with a nasty-looking knee injury and the loss had a negative effect on the visitors as Etuhu then Tchuimeni-Nimely both went close to putting City in front.

Tchuimeni-Nimely didn’t have to wait too much longer to break the deadlock, however, with Kay putting him through to slot past the keeper on 29 minutes, though the Liberian striker limped off injured after the goal a a result of a collision with the Villa custodian.

City continued to boss proceedings after the break and the hosts’ task was made easier when Baker was sent off for the visitors after second bookable offence on 76 minutes.

A minute later, Ibrahim put the Blues 2-0 up with a low drive from the edge of the box to seal the points and a deserved victory.