Two months before Barcelona send their new golden crop to face City at Hyde, Moss Lane provided enough of a test as goals from Joan Angel Roman and Kieran Trippier made sure of victory.
But if City thought this would be a nice gentle introduction to the new campaign, they were given a jolt with just a minute gone when Courtney Meppen-Walter brought down Shaun Densmore in the area.
He had tracked the midfielder well enough but his challenge lacked precision, and Damion Reeves stepped up to the penalty spot to beat Ian Lawlor despite the goalkeeper going the right way.
However, it was the Blues - bolstered by the presence of Craig Bellamy in attack and Nedum Onuoha at the heart of the defence - who played the better football from then on.
Wales striker Bellamy had one good effort deflected past for a corner before a delightful bout of passing between Michael Johnson, Bellamy and Gai Assulin set up Spanish youngster Roman to stroke an equaliser after 34 minutes.
Bellamy sent a free kick screaming over Ollerenshaw’s bar a few minutes later before skipper Trippier unleashed a great shot from range that gave the Alty goalkeeper little chance.
Having secured that 42nd-minute lead, City coach Welsh made a few second-half substitutions, with Bellamy cheered and booed in equal measure when he was replaced by Devante Cole on 55 minutes.
Cole, who signed a new contract this summer, might have had a third City goal after weaving into the penalty area late on only for the hard-working Ollerenshaw to save at full stretch.
