Blackburn Turn Two Goals to Defeat

MCFC Reserves 3 - 2 BRFC Reserves

Manchester City came from two nil down to defeat a Blackburn team that had a lot of pace up front that had caused us a few problems at times as their two goals showed. But a sterling second half performance from the Blues earned all three points and a very strong position near the top of the table after second half goals from Ched Evans and Ben Mee after Ashley Grimes had got City straight back in the game after City had gone two nil down.

Blackburn took the lead in the ninth minute when Sergio Peter sent a twenty five yard curling shot that had Filip Mentel confused about its flight as it passed him into the back of the net. Nine minutes later Mentel redeemed himself by denying Martin Olsson from doubling Blackburn's lead from a good shot.

On twenty one minutes Kelvin Etuhu missed a sitter to level things up when a Karl Moore cross came over to him, but he put his effort over. Four minutes later Paul Marshall hit a great free kick that bounced out from the inside of the post and within a minute Gunnar Nielsen was doing wonders to deny Evans from a great strike.

With all that pressure not telling for City; Blackburn rushed up the left flank and Andrew Taylor crossed well for Marceo Rigters to fire past Mentel for their second goal.

Within a minute City had halved the defecit when Marshall sent Grimes free with the ball to put it past Nielsen and into the net. City could have levelled things right on half time with Mee being denied from a Moore cross.

Within nine minutes of the re-start the Blues were back on level terms when our stoic and determined Captain, Sam Williamson sent a fine cross into the box from the left for Kelvin to nod back to the centre of the box for Ched to smash the ball into the net of the underside of the bar.

City continued to press for a winner and that pressure paid of when yet again Sam sent a good cross in from the left after it was only half cleared from a corner; the cross missed everyone but fell to Mee at the right of the area who drove forward with the ball and smashed a fine drive with his weaker right foot past Nielsen in goal.

The score could have ended five two with Nielsen producing a great save from an Evans thirty five yard pile drive free kick that was absolutely stunning. Blackburn also had Eddie Nolan to thank for clearing an Evans effort of the line after Nielsen had dropped a cross from the corner but that clearance came to Kelvin who tried to curl the ball into the net, but was inches wide.

The reserve's next league match is home to Liverpool on Tuesday 27th November; if we beat them then winning the league will be in our own hands.


City: Mentel(GK), Vidal(Obeng 80), Williamson(Capt.), McDonald, Mee, Marshall(Mouritsen 78), Etuhu, Grimes, Evans, Dabo(Laird 85), Moore.

Subs: Hartley(GK), D Ball.


ROVERS: Nielsen(GK), Kane, Taylor, Reid, Winnard, Nolan, Treacy, Judge (Griffiths 77), Peter (Clarke 87), Rigters, Olsson.

Subs not used: O'Keefe, Bussman (GK), King.

Att: 232.