Goals from Seko Fofana were aiming to load the bullets from midfield.
As if this mini Manchester derby needed any more edge, the Blues were looking to avenge their defeat to the Red Devils in the Lancashire Senior Cup final earlier this season and would pull three points clear of their neighbours with a win.
Both teams were locked on 16 points after 10 games in joint-seventh place in the table going into the game after United could only draw with Middlesbrough last week.
United were first to force either goalkeeper into action after two minutes when a stray pass in the City midfield was pounced upon by former Birmingham loanee Jesse Lingard.
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The 21-year old was through on goal but had Emyr Huws in hot pursuit and perhaps the Welshman did just enough to put the United man off his stride as he fired straight into the gloves of Ian Lawlor.
However, it was City who took an early lead from an unlikely source after eight minutes.
Seconds after he was denied by a fine save from Sam Johnstone in the United goal, left-back Leigh headed his side in front with an unstoppable bullet header from the resulting corner.
Vieira’s men hardly had it all their own way for the majority of the first period as Lawlor was required to preserve his side’s narrow lead with an excellent save to again defy Lingard and another instinctive stop with his legs to keep out David Petrucci’s goalbound poke.
William Keane should have levelled the scores with the last touch of the first period but his header under no pressure on the back post went wide, much to the relief of the boys in Blue.
That relief would prove to be short-lived as the home side did equalise just one minute into the second half and it was little surprise that it was their chief threat who supplied the strike.
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Lingard would not be denied by Lawlor for a third time as he coolly slotted past the Dubliner to restore parity after breaking through.
That goal seemed to breathe new life into the boy Blues and they began to dominate again.
Hiwula was inches away from an instant response after arriving onto a Drury cross but Glendon did eventually restore the advantage with a sidefooted finish from close range on 54 minutes which followed wonderful work from Cole on the left.
Under the watchful eye of his father Andrew, who represented both clubs in his time as a player, Devante wriggled free on the left flank and pulled the ball back for Glendon to swipe home decisively.
United boss Warren Joyce’s response was to make all three substitutions in quick succession to try and find a way back into the game.
Larnell Cole came close to the second equaliser for the home side with 15 minutes to play when he worked space for a shot on the right side of the penalty area but it smashed into the side-netting and Lawlor may have had it covered anyway.
City held out in the remaining minutes, defending their lead stoically to take local pride and avenge their Lancashire Senior Cup final defeat.
They now lie eight points behind leaders Fulham with a game in hand and are next in action away at 20th place Newcastle on Friday night.
