Both United and City still have the Reserve League title in their sights after sharing the points and four goals at Altrincham's Moss Lane on Thursday night.

United remain in top spot with 29 points from 13 games while the Blues are in second, two points behind having played one game more.

City started the livelier of the two sides, but in the 19th minute it was United who found the net.

City's Ben Mee needlessly fouled Mame Biram Diouf just inside his own half and from the resulting free-kick, taken by Oliver Norwood, United's Reece Brown rose unopposed to head home.

In the 27th minute they doubled their advantage when William Keane, recently promoted from United's Academy side, scored with a cheeky back heel.

The impressive Alex Nimely grabbed City's first with a smart finish after Dedryck Boyata's header had rebounded off the bar.

Ritchie De Laet was stretchered from the field with an ankle injury after being involved in an accidental collision with Poole.

City claimed a share of the spoils late on when Brown handled and Andrew Tutte stepped forward to blast his spot kick past Ron-Robert Zieler.

UNITED: Zieler, R Brown, Gill, C Evans, Cathcart, De Laet (Eikrem 76), Norwood, Possebon, Diouf (Stewart 46), W Keane, Obertan (Brandy 66).

CITY: Gonzales, Boyata, Cunningham, Tutte, Onuoha, Mee, Vidal (Mak 71), Trippier, Nimely, Guidetti (Kay 86), Poole (Chantler 80).