On a bitterly cold night at Morecambe FC’s Christie Park, Rovers went into the break deservedly a goal to the good, Josh O’Keefe’s glancing header on 22 minutes adudged to have crept just over the line.
City’s Paul Marshall hit the post in the first half, but Rovers could have been two up by half time, but luckily De Vita’s header smashed into the crossbar and away from danger.
The Blues pressed for an equaliser after the break, with Ashley Grimes forcing a good save out of Nielsen, until Poole levelled the scores with just seven minutes left. A high ball caused confusion in the Rovers defence, with a deflection off Gunning falling nicely into Poole’s path, and the substitute made no mistake in tucking the ball back across the keeper and into the opposite bottom corner of the net.
That wasn’t the end of proceedings, with Ashley Grimes lobbing Nielsen three minutes later to take City into the lead - only for the linesman to flag for offside to the Blues’ amazement. Rovers went close themselves in a frantic finalé, Martin making a good save to deny Doran and the defence holding firm in a last-gasp goalmouth scramble.
The reserves’ next game is away to Liverpool on March 12th, but don’t forget that before then City’s Under 18 side play a two-legged FA Youth Cup final against Sunderland. The first leg is at the Stadium of Light this Thursday at 7.00pm, with the return leg at the City of Manchester Stadium next Tuesday, March 11th, also at 7.00pm.
1. Richard Martin
2. Michael Daly
3. Sam Williamson
4. Garry Breen
5. Clayton McDonald
6. Christian Mouritsen
7. Adam Clayton
8. Paul Marshall
9. Ian Daly (Poole 66)
10. Ashley Grimes
11. Karl Moore
Subs
12. James Poole
13. Andrea Giombetti (GK)
14. Chris Chantler
15. Chris Ramsey
16. Matthew Brown
