On a busy day of football for the club our development squad took on a well drilled Manchester City side, who we snatched a point form in our last meeting, and came out on top to remain the in-form side in PL2.

Chelsea got the goal action started when Tariq Uwakwe finished off an excellent team move after 12 minutes - we took that lead into the break. Man City came back out with the aim of getting back into the game but were dealt a blow when our lead was doubled my means of an own-goal.

A little over 20 minutes remained and City finally found the target after numerous attempts - Morgan Rogers nodded beyond Ziger but the away team's resurgence seemed too late as Chelsea remained solid at the back to claim victory.

Head Coach Andy Myers named four changes ahead of kick-off, Ziger was back between the sticks, Tariq Lamptey returned to right-back having been on first team duty alongside Dynel Simeu who was an unused substitue last time out. Billy Gilmour was back in midfield and captained the side while Tino Livramento took a starting place on the wing.

Conditions were overcast in Aldershot as the game got underway. Manchester City started the game quickly and enjoyed their spell of the ball - Chelsea, like we have seen so many times this season, were happy to be patient out of possession and try to make the most of their time with the ball.

The first meaningful attempt on target came inside the opening 10 minutes, City's Ben Knight pounced upon a loose ball 20-yards from goal and took aim but Ziger was equal to the attempt clutching the ball close to his chest as he made the save.

Chelsea however made their first shot on goal count as Uwakwe opened the scoring on 12 minutes. The move started in our own half when Charlie Brown’s deft touch sent Uwakwe racing towards the box, he found Livramento who spread play even wider to the overlapping Lamptey – the right-back’s cross back into the danger area was expertly dummied by Livramento into the path of our number 10 who was there to tuck the ball home. That excellent move had the Blues a goal to the good.

Our early goal seemed to settle any nerves as Chelsea stamped their mark on the game, controlling the ball in both halves. Uwakwe sent a deflected shot at goal which Gavin Bazunu gratefully gathered before Simeu was called into action to make an important block from Rogers’ goal bound strike from close range.

After a much more settled period of the game, the visitors should have equalised after 35 minutes - a deep ball into the box evaded all and dropped to winger, Knight, who swung his foot at the ball but thankfully poor connection saw it bounce wide of Ziger’s net. We were deservedly ahead at the break.

We made a change at the break and it was a like-for-like swap with Jon Russell taking the place of Billy Gilmour who had only just returned to the side.

City registered the first chance after the break and it was somewhat identical to their best opportunity of the opening half. Knight’s poor connection at the back post from Lewis Fiorini’s cross sent the ball high and wide of the target.

Ziger was called into action moments later, he held the ball well from Rogers’ placed attempt - the visitors were enjoying a sustained spell of possession and Chelsea were having to defend deep.

Clinton Mola produced a heroic clearance to keep the scores level - as Jayden Braaf had the goal at his mercy the central defender raced back beyond his goalkeeper to launch the ball clear of danger inches before it crossed the line.

Mola’s clearance proved very important moment later as with the next attack we doubled our lead with a little bit of fortune. George McEachran’s whipped corner-kick was headed into his own net by City defender Nat Ogbeta and we had some breathing space as it 2-0 to the Blues.

However the visitors continued their offensive play and found  a way back into the clash four minutes later. After many first-half attempts Rogers hit the back of the net from a corner-kick and the deficit was reduced. 2-1 with a nervy 18 minutes left of play.

Myers called in another change after 78 minutes, Jack Wakely replaced goalscorer Uwakwe as we looked to tighten the defence – it also warranted a change in shape as we switched to a back three of Mola, Wakely and Simeu.

It a very defensive minded final 10 minutes for Chelsea but a resolute back line stood firm as we claimed our eighth win of this PL2 campaign.

Chelsea (4-2-3-1) Karlo Ziger; Tariq Lamptey, Dynel Simeu, Clinton Mola, Ian Maatsen; Billy Gilmour (Jon Russell h/t), McEachran; Tino Livramento, Tariq Uwakwe (Jack Wakely 78), Henry Lawrence; Charlie Brown (Armando Broja 63)Unused subs Nic Tie, Thierno BalloScorers Uwakwe 12, Own-goal 68

Man City Gavin Bazunu, Alpua Diounicou, Finley Burns (Rowan McDonald 43), Taylor Harwood Bellis, Nat Ogbeta, Tommy Doyle (c), Ben Knight, Fisayo Dele Bajuiru (Adrian Bernabe 68), Jayden Braaf, Lewis Fiorini (Felix Nmecha 60), Morgan RogersUnused subs Tom Scott, Nabil TouaiziBooked Knight 76Scorers Rogers 72

Referee David Rock