Chester City 2, Manchester City 3

A YOUTHFUL Manchester City side produced a strong second-half performance to inflict the second pre-season defeat on Chester City in four days.

The Nationwide Conference outfit, who lost to League of Wales side TNS on Wednesday, were equal to the Maine Road youngsters in the first period but sadly ran out of ideas in the second.

The difference between the sides was highlighted by the performance of New Zealand-born striker Chris Killen, who had a loan spell at Wrexham last season.

The 19-year-old linked well with Chris Shuker, and will no doubt be the subject of an internal memo, from City's reserve team coach Asa Hartford to senior boss Kevin Keegan later today.

Killen looked a class apart, and is surely destined to be a part of City's push for a quick return to the Premiership this coming season.

Chester took the lead after 21 minutes when a cross from the left by ex-Manchester United junior Mike Rose was missed by the visitor's defence allowing Hill a simple job to stab the ball home from five yards.

Shuker equalised within 90 seconds after Dunfield's through-ball was knocked on by Barton to allow him to score from 15 yards.

Killen was unlucky not to put his side ahead when a fierce header rattled the Chester post with Brown well beaten. However, after 36 minutes a corner from the left by Shuker was headed home by the New Zealander.

After 37 minutes the 19-year-old striker made his one blemish when he was adjudged to have pushed Carl Ruffer allowing Wes Kilgannon the opportunity to equalise from the spot.

In the second period the visitors began to take control and Brown was forced to make two excellent saves from Barton and Dunfield. After 75 minutes the inevitable winner came. The Chester defence failed to get anywhere near to a Shuker corner and Killen powered his header past the hapless Brown.

Besides the defeat there was further disappointment for the trouble torn Chester City club, when the attendance was announced, just 440 people attending the game, this following a crowd of just of 250 for another friendly the previous weekend.

CHESTER CITY : Brown, S. Rose (Woodyatt 80), M. Rose, Kilgannon, Ruffer, Webster, Hill (Wright 52), Kerr, Malkin (Spink 71), Rodgers, Ruscoe (Topey 80). Subs: Roberts, Hopwood.

MANCHESTER CITY : Murphy, Meers, Jordan, Whelan, Day, McCarthy, Barton, Blackburn, Killen, Dunfield, Shuker.