County included three trialists in their starting eleven for their final Manchester Senior Cup.

Ben Hinchcliffe, who has just been released by Derby County, was given a chance in goal with Matty Mainwaring, impressive in last Thursday's gamer against Bolton Wanderers, continuing in midfield with Myerscough College defender Chris Smalley, who also started against Bolton, lining up at the back

Played in glorious sunshine at City's Carrington training complex it was the home side who threatened first with a snap shot from James Poole that brought a fine save out of Hinchcliffe on 22 minutes.

County responded with a curling free kick from Greg Tansey that was headed clear inside the six-yard box.

Ten minutes before the break Paul Ennis headed James Vincent's cross back across goal but no one was on hand to apply the finishing touch.

From the next attack City should have taken the lead but Poole volleyed wide with the goal at his mercy.

Six minutes before the break another spell of City pressure ended with a timely clearance from lee Williams.

County were certainly giving as good as they were getting and a low cross from Jake Wood caused panic in the home defence before the ball was eventually cleared.



County continued to press after the break and Curtis Oberg came to City's rescue with a perfectly timed tackle to dispossess Vincent who had been picked out in the box by a clever pass from Amari Morgan-Smith.

Mainwaring then tested Filip Menel in the home goal with a 25-yard drive the keeper pushed away to safety.

City took the lead on 65 minutes when David Ball capitalised on a slip by Smalley to give Hinchcliffe no chance.

Two minutes later Ennis set up substitute Martin Smeaton who shot over from outside the box.

County: Hinchcliffe; Wood (Flowers 57), Griffin, Tansey (Ellis 65), Smalley, Williams, J Vincent, Mainwaring, Morgan-Smith (Smeaton 55), Elliott, Ennis.