A man of the match performance from Stuart Green inspired an experienced Blackpool reserve team to a 4-1 victory over a Manchester City reserve team this afternoon.

Green grabbed himself a hat-trick in the game at the Sport City Manchester Athletics Arena and was involved in a lot of the good, attacking play during the game - but it was an injury to Stephen McPhee that left a dampener on the performance.

McPhee, starting upfront alongside Louis Almond, was stretchered off after just four minutes of play when his knee gave way on the turf whilst in control of the ball. The injury was later confirmed to be his anterior cruciate ligament. Billy McKenna came on in his place.

It was Manchester City who had started the game the brighter, Mark Halstead was called into action two minutes in to block Jack Redshaw from giving the home side the lead. James Poole later thought he had put City in front but Matt Kay did well to clear his effort off the line.

The momentum of the game changed after 19 minutes when Louis Almond was brought down in the box after working his way through with a couple of step-overs. Stuart Green stepped up to tuck the ball away and give the Seasiders the lead.

Francesco Carratta was the next Blackpool player to have an effort at goal before Billy McKenna and Stuart Green fired over from just outside of the area. Some great scrambling defence at the other end from Ian Evatt prevented Jack Redshaw from equalising just before half-time.

The Seasiders extended their lead two minutes into the second-half through Louis Almond, the striker latched on to a through ball from Billy McKenna and slotted the ball through Eirik Johansen's legs.

Almond was then involved in the third goal just three minutes later - his shot was parried into the path of Stuart Green who headed in off the woodwork to get his second of the game. Green then completed his hat-trick seven minutes later following a great ball over the top from Matt Kay. Chesting the ball down into his path, Green took the ball around the keeper and placed the ball into the back of the net to make it four.

Manchester City did pull a goal back after the hour mark - John Guidetti's cross was tapped in by Jack Redshaw from six yards out. But despite the goal it was the Seasiders who continued to see plenty of the ball prior to the final whistle being blown to bring the game to an end.

FINAL SCORE - MANCHESTER CITY 1 BLACKPOOL 4