Manchester City reserves v Middlesbrough reserves

Teams

City: Mentel (Hartley h-t), Vidal, Williamson, McDonald (Mee 51), Breen, Laird, Clayton, Grimes (Poole 22), D Ball, Marshall, McDermott.

Subs: Daly, Weiss.

Middlesbrough: Turnbull, McMahon, Bennett, Grounds, Hines, Johnson, Franks, Goulon (Smallwood 58), Craddock, Hutchinson (Porritt h-t), Owens.

subs: Corker, Atkinson, McCardle.

Goals: 1-0 (Ball 3), 1-1 (Craddock 9)

Bookings:

City: Breen (38), Laird (81)

Middlesbrough: McMahon (61)

Referee: S Rushton

The young Blues side quickly put last week’s disappointment behind them when they took the lead in the third minute. McDermott won the ball on the left and fed Grimes, whose shot rebounded off the post straight into the path of David Ball, who buried the chance low into the corner of the net.

The lead was nearly doubled four minutes later, Clayton’s cross skidding across the greasy surface only inches in front of the advancing Ashley Grimes, just a few yards in front of goal.

But Boro struck back with nine minutes on the clock, Franks breaking down the right to cross into the box, where Tom Craddock slid in to slot home underneath Mentel.

Craddock had had an unhappy visit to Manchester 10 days ago with the senior Middlesbrough side, but he nearly made it an even better night for himself seconds later, but Mentel dived at his feet in the six yard box to keep the scores level.

Grimes took a Boro clearance flush in the face on 22 minutes and he was replaced by Poole after being helped off the pitch looking decidedly groggy. The City physio was kept busy when Breen took a blow while defending a corner, earning a bloody nose in the process.

The next decent opportunity fell to Marc Laird on 33 minutes, but this time it was Turnbull’s turn to make a good save, pushing Laird’s shot away low and to his left.

The injuries to Grimes and Breen saw five minutes added on, with Mentel denying Johnson. There was still time for the City keeper to collide with Vidal as they tried to block Craddock, the physios attending to Mentel for several minutes but Hartley replaced the Slovakian after half time.

The start of the second half was sluggish, but Vidal got into Boro’s area before putting his shot just over the bar.

The Blues were much the better side now, and McDermott’s great run to the byline on 63 minutes gave Ball a glorious chance, but City’s goalscorer somehow put the ball over from just a couple of yards out with a goal there for the taking.

Boro’s keeper nearly had egg all over his face with 20 minutes left when he slipped as a backpass rolled towards him, but centre back Hines spared his blushes by getting between the advancing Ball and the ball.

A minute later it was the home side’s stopper in the action, Hartley making a superb one-handed save to tip over an Owens shot from the edge of the area. Ball drove a shot straight at Turnbull shortly afterwards, the visitors keen to preserve their unbeaten start to the season.

Franks’ shot from range flew harmlessly over on 86 minutes, and Owens was one-on-one with Hartley on 89 minutes but chipped the ball straight to the City keeper.

The Blues ended the game with 10 men, Adam Clayton hobbling off the pitch to be helped to the dressing room by one of City's over worked medical staff.