Oscar Bobb, Kian Breckin and Carlos Borges goals were enough to get past Mark Robinson’s men today as our young Blues were unable to keep out the home side.

The defeat, which is our fifth of the season, means our chances of winning this year’s PL2 are over.

Our development squad started well, and Rankine went close with an early effort, but City were matching our intensity and they had opportunities through Micah Hamilton and Borges.

We almost took the lead as Omari Hutchinson struck the post, but soon after that chance the home side scored, as a cross into the box from Borges found Bobb, who made no mistake with his finish from close range.

City took hold of the second period, and they scored two quick-fire goals which extended their lead. Breckin grabbed their second, whilst Borges smashed home for the third.

Castledine was a second-half substitute who was in the thick of the action, winning a penalty which he missed but scoring almost a minute later after good work from Ben Elliott.

The game would end 3-1 as despite our late rally towards the end of the match we failed to pull the scoreline back in our favour.

High intensity

Our boys started fast, and we tested keeper Cieran Slicker early on as he had to make a good stop from Rankine’s shot from just inside the box.

Borges had two chances at goal, one which was saved well by Gabriel Slonina and another which only just went wide. The winger was making his presence known early on.

Just over 15 minutes into the game and City created their biggest chance as Mebude took a neat touch which helped him advance into our box, but his shot went wide.

Our best chance came through Hutchinson who jinked his way past his opposing full-back and then curled an effort which beat the keeper but hit the foot of the post.

City in control

The home side took the lead though and it was a straightforward goal as Borges fired a dangerous cross into the box and Bobb was in the right place to divert into the net.

It was a slow start to the second period from our young Blues and Manchester City capitalised as they doubled their lead through Breckin. In similar fashion to the first, left-back Tomas Galvez fired in a cross which found the midfielder Breckin in the box, and he steered it into the net.

It quickly became three as City pounced on a loose ball in our half and it was Bobb who returned the favour to Borges by assisting the winger who smashed into the roof of the net.

Fighting back

With just over five minutes to go we won a penalty as second-half substitute Castledine was fouled by Shea Charles. The resulting penalty though was saved by Slicker.

Despite this, we did manage to score what was a consolation from a corner, as another substitute Elliot jinked his way into the box finding Castledine at the back post as he tapped the ball into the net.

We were denied what seemed to be a clear penalty two minutes from time as Castledine was tripped inside the box, but the referee waved away those claims.

That was how the game would end as our chances of winning the PL2 are all but over.

Our development squad have two games left to play before the end of the season.