RESERVES: MAN CITY 3 - 2 LATICS. Hampson shines as Latics go down fighting

MANCHESTER CITY 3
Grimes 33, Cunningham 52, Moore 75
LATICS 2
Hampson 20, Cwyka 90

A young Latics side featuring six first year scholars and no senior professionals went down fighting under the watchful gaze of Manchester City manager Sven Goran Eriksson at Sports City last night.

Matty Hampson's superb 25 yard free-kick, which curled over and round the wall, opened the scoring. Hampson was also at the centre of a controversial equalizer for City, when play was not halted after he stayed down following a challenge in the City half, Ashley Grimes eventually slotting home past Neil Postlethwaite.

City went further ahead after the break through Greg Cunningham, before Hampson forced City keeper Richard Martin into a fine save to deny Latics an equalizer. Karl Moore scored a cruel third for City but Tomasz Cwyka's last minute deflected free-kick added some respectability to the score.

Keith Bertschin, Latics' Reserve Team Manager, said. "You're never pleased to lose of course, but we had a young side out and I thought they fought well and showed a lot of desire."

LATICS
Postlethwaite, Moore, Meace, Kirkbride, Mustoe; Hampson (McManaman 87), Holt (Prince 75), Routledge, Cywka, Kupisz, McCaughtrie.
Unused subs: McArdle, Porter, King.