As the Platt Lane boys settled the favourites took a deserved lead after just 14 minutes. It was a short corner played to Donal McDermott and he played a clever reserve pass into the path of David Ball and the prolific striker made no mistake with a cool finish to the keeper’s right.

On 21 minutes Danny Sturridge sprung into life with some sharp moves before drilling a low shot just wide from the left corner of the Bristol box.

After a quick break down the right wing Bristol City pulled level on 32 minutes as their strike pairing linked up.

Tristan Plummer raced away and after cutting into the box, he stayed calm and pulled the ball back to Marlon Jackson, who just about put the ball into the corner despite Hartley getting a hand to the shot.

With Bristol on top since the leveller, the Blues nearly went in at the break 2-1 down.

In the last minute of the first half, the hosts missed a golden opportunity to score. It was a dangerous cross in from the impressive Ross Stearn and with the keeper taken out of the equation; Robert Stambolziev could only head over with the goal at his mercy.

HALF TIME: Bristol City 1-1 Manchester City

The young Blues will have needed wise words from Jim Cassell and Alex Gibson to get back on top in this game as it rests on the proverbial knive-edge.

But within 10 minutes of the second half Manchester City were behind. The lively Plummer latched onto a bad back pass and as he attempted to round Hartley, the keeper pulled him down for a penalty on 54 minutes.

The stopper was lucky not to see any card for his misdemeanour, but was unlucky not to keep Stambolziev’s resulting penalty out, despite getting enough of a hand on it.

Bristol had a chance to go further in front on 63 minutes as Boon’s curling free kick from the right was headed against the post by Luke Wilkinson.

That proved to be a vital moment in the tie, as three minutes later the Blues levelled the score, with David Ball pouncing for his second goal of the night.

It came after a low Danny Sturridge’s shot from the edge of the box bounced away from the keeper and Ball followed up to finish from close range.

And on 73 minutes the turnaround was complete as Manchester City went back into the lead thanks to a fine individual strike from Danny Sturridge.

The 18-year-old, who couldn’t be kept out of the game the longer it went on, produced a couple of tricks before fizzing a right footed shot beyond Balazs – the strike taking the keeper completely by surprise.

Three minutes later substitute, Angelos Tsiaklis played Ball through, but it was a good save from Balazs that denied the striker a hat-trick.

But 11 minutes from time the tie was over, as Sturridge again scored a great goal, lifting it away from the defender before volleying fiercely into the bottom corner of the net.

It was hard work for the Blues, but their quality came out in the end and clinical finishing from both Ball and Sturridge gave City the edge, and a place in the FA Youth Cup quarter final.

I've got to say, if you're not a member it's worth signing up for the trial to see both of  danny sturridge's goals. Both are absolute screemer's

God im good!

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Too often, we lose sight of lifes simple pleasures. Remember, when someone annoys you it takes 42 muscles in your face to frown, BUT, it only takes 4 muscles to extend your arm and bitch-slap that mother....pass it on.

*Biased Rag red spindoctoring scum.

Cool Cool Coolio...

How's that for and Englishlike exchange for you (Mr. Check)