Manchester United failed in their bid to retain the Manchester Senior Cup, with local rivals Manchester City securing dramatic 3-2 victory at Eastlands. The Blues have stopped Ricky Sbragia's side on their onslaught of the second-string game, with United already crowned champions of the Premier Reserve League North and the Pontins League.

A nervy first-half saw City take the lead as Ian Bennett bundled home a Lee Croft cross. The hosts were seeking revenge after finishing behind United in the Reserve North table, yet the Red Devils found an equaliser through the highly-rated Giuseppe Rossi. The forward looks set to challenge for senior side football next season.

Rossi's strike came before David Bellion fired the Red Devils into the lead with a well-taken strike just before the interval. The former Sunderland attacker has struggled for first-team opportunities this season, but has played well for the reserves and capped another impressive performance with a superb goal on Monday night.

However, the bitter Blues staged a fine fight back. The game, a repeat of last season's final, was turned on its head when Stephen Ireland equalised for City late on, just as United fans had been preparing to celebrate anoher peice of silverware. Then, with extra-time looming, substitute Ishmael Miller scored a cracking curling effort in the closing minutes to give City the cup.

United battled hard as injury time ticked on, but there was not to be another twist and the reserve suffer a setback in what has been a superb season. Sbragia must now pick up his players as they battle for the English Reserve Shield against Charlton Athletic on Thursday, where the two winners of the regional Premier Leagues do battle.

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