Carlos Vicens’s side shrugged off the loss of Juan Larios who was dismissed for a straight red card on 53 minutes by taking the lead within two minutes through Tai Sodje’s penalty.
And City dug deep again after the visitors had levelled to claim the points through Carlos Borges’ winner midway through the second half to claim the three points.
What happened
The match was played amidst a backdrop of driving, incessant rain but the gloomy CFA weather didn’t deflect Carlos Vicens’s side from making a bright start.
We were almost ahead on three minutes when striker Sodje latched onto errant United back pass, but his shot swerved agonisingly wide of the left-hand post.
On 11 minutes a raking long-range Callum Doyle pass put winger Carlos Borges in behind the United defence, however he unselfishly opted to try and find Sodje rather than shooting and United cleared the danger.
Our best chance of the opening half came on 33 minutes. Oscar Bobb whipped in a pin-point corner and Doyle powered in a goal bound header which United keeper Dermott Mel somehow kept out with a fine instinctive save.
The sole threat from the visitors arrived on the stroke of half-time, City keeper Josh McNamara gathering safely from Omari Forson’s dipping, deflected shot.
City were then reduced to 10 men 10 minutes into the restart after being caught out by a long ball over the top. As Dellon Hoogewerf bore down on goal, Juan Larios tugged at his shirt to impede his progress.
The Spaniard, somewhat harshly, was shown a straight red.
It looked a key moment but rather than retreat into their shell, City summoned up the perfect response as we took a 57th minute lead from the penalty spot
Sodje was the architect, the striker being tripped as he opened space in the United box and the forward showed nerves of steel to fire the spot kick home.
But the visitors then drew level in somewhat fortuitous circumstances on the hour. As City keeper McNamara looked to kick clear the ball rebounded off Martin Svidersky straight into the net.
Once again through City responded in perfect fashion as we retook the lead on 65 minutes.
Reds keeper Dermott Mel made a hash of an attempted clearance and Borges gathered the ball and created space before firing home into the roof of the net.
With chances opening up McNamara then produced a fine stop to prevent Emeran’s cross finding the waiting Forson before the winger headed wide when unmarked in front of goal.
With time almost up United cranked up the pressure with McNamara producing two fine saves to ensure City claimed a fine win.
How we lined up
Josh McNamara was in goal, shielded by a back four of Kwaku Oduroh, Shea Charles, Callum Doyle and Juan Larios. Romeo Lavia, Oscar Bobb and Darko Gyabi were in midfield with Tai Sodje, Josh Adam and Carlos Borges deployed upfront.
What it means
We are in equal first place with Everton with 10 points from our first four games of the season with the league now on hold for the international break.
What’s next
Our Under-18s are back in Under-18 Premier League North action on Saturday October 17th when we travel to Middlesbrough. Kick off on Teesside is 1pm.
