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Manchester City Reserves	0 - 1	Newcastle United Reserves
Half time:	0 - 0
Score Sheet:
		Coppinger (54)
	Teams
Nicky Weaver Richard Edghill Stephen Jordan Alfie Haaland Rhys Day Simon Colosimo Terry Dunfield Dickson Etuhu Paul Dickov Paulo Wanchope Chris Shuker		Jon Brain Andy Griffin Wayne Quinn Warren Barton David Cowan Brian Kerr Diego Gavilan Kieron Dyer Michael Chopra James Coppinger Jamie McClen
Substitutes:
Chris Killen for Wanchope ( ) Glenn Whelan for Halland ( ) Leon Mike for Dickov ( )		Michael Chopra for McMenamin (58) Mark Boyd for Dyer (65)
Subs not used:
Tyrone Mears Kevin Ellegaard		Ryan McGuffie Peter Ramage (only 4 subs named)
Bookings:
n/a		n/a
Referee: LS.Mason
Attendance:  426, including a vocal contingent from the North West Mags.

Half time: Man City 0 Newcastle Reserves 0 

54 mins Coppinger opened the scoring after 54 minutes beating the keeper from 12 yards following Gavilan's cross which evaded the onrushing Kerr. Coppinger was left with the keeper to beat which he did with a firm shot. 1-0

Full time: Man City 0 Newcastle Reserves 0 

Tommy Craig commented:

"It was a good game, they had a strong side out but we played well. Warren Barton marshalled the defence very well and David Cowan did well alongside him.

"We were put under a bit of pressure towards the end but always looked capable of holding out. Both teams gave it everything and it was a cracking contest. We shaded the first half, and the start of the second half when we scored our goal, but then they came into the game a lot more.

"Michael Chopra did well in his first start for us but I brought him off as he was tiring in what was a very hectic and energetic game. Kieron Dyer also had a really good hour, the temptation was to leave him on as he was making powerful runs at both ends of the field but we didn't want to push him too much."

United's reserves went second in the table, above the mackems and with a game in hand after Jamie Coppinger scored the only goal of the game at Hyde United's Ewen Fields on Thursday night.

Craig gave a first reserve start to Michael Chopra whose last three games have been for three different sides: U19, U18 & Reserves. Kieron Dyer played his second game in two days to bolster his fitness levels.

It was an uneventful opening 15 minutes with neither keeper tested although Dyer looked quite bright. Kerr was captain with Barton and Cowan in the centre of defence.

United had four first half shots on target, three from Chopra and one from Dyer, and looked the more likely scorers. But a fine defensive header from Barton prevented Mears giving City an undeserved lead.

Chopra and Jamie Coppinger gave the home defence problems with the highlight of the half a bicycle kick from Chops that just went wide.

Both sides then hit the woodwork with City's Killen hitting a post after 71 minutes and sub Colin McMenamin lobbing Weaver only to see the ball bounce back off the bar.

City threatened in the closing stages with Quinn heading away from an unguarded goal after Brain went to ground but United held on with man of the match Barton playing well in the centre of the defence.

KK was in attendance but no sign of Bobby.

Biffa 

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