The night started superbly for the Blues, with Clayton McDonald powering home a header from a corner after just two minutes.
Despite the driving rain and high winds at the Marston’s Arena, both sides managed to play some attractive football with City acquitting themselves well for most of the first half until Danny Welbeck’s clinical finish levelled the scores on 42 minutes.
The Reds took the lead after just two minutes of the second half through Simpson, and they continued to dominate as the game progressed.
They went 3-1 up on 58 minutes when Welbeck’s long-range shot took a cruel deflection of McDonald to beat Richard Martin in City’s goal.
McDonald’s night worsened with just over a quarter of an hour left, the big defender being harshly adjudged to have brought Welbeck down inside the area. The referee pointed to the spot, and the highly-rated United striker completed his hat trick to take the score to 4-1.
Speaking afterwards, City coach Eric Steele said: “We gave a good account of ourselves for most of the first half, in what were terrible conditions for playing football.
“Unfortunately for us, they equalised just before the break, and it was bad luck that they stretched their lead with a deflection. The fourth goal was from a very dubious penalty, but we had a young side playing against some very experienced opponents so I hope that our lads can learn from tonight’s performance.”
Team: Martin, Obeng, Williamson, Mee, McDonald, M Daly, Clayton, Grimes, D Ball, Marshall, Moore.
Subs: Breen, Mentel (GK), Mouritsen, Nimely-Tchuimeni, Tsiaklis
