City coach Chris Powell was delighted to see the Reserves lift the totesport.com Cup at Quorn last night against an Oldham side under the watchful eyes of two ex-City favourites, manager Paul Dickov and coach Gerry Taggart, now with the Latics.
He said: " I am very pleased to land the first piece of silverware for the club this season,let's hope it is not the last and it was the first game for most of the players.
"We have not had any friendlies and really I was very pleased with what they produced on the night. They were playing against a very experienced team with one or two who had played at first-team level while not many of ours had and I am really happy they came out winners and it is really good we gave a run-out to Bruno Berner who missed out on the previous night, and Michael Lamey. It was important for them."
Two-goal hero Ashley Chambers sealed the 2-1 win with manager Paulo Sousa looking on and Powell said: " As a striker, all you can do is put a marker down and that is to score goals and that's what he did. I thought he was sharp all night, struggled towards the end but soldiered on and he has shown he wants to be in the first-team."
With no league programme for the Reserves, it is difficult for those bubbling under the first-team squad to show their paces and Powell said: "We will do our best to arrange friendlies and to hopefully defend this trophy because there is a big gap between youth team football and league football and that needs to be filled. It is important we don't forget those players who need games towards senior football."
City boss Paulo Sousa was full of praise for his young Reserves side who lifted the totesport.com Cup on Wednesday night, beating Oldham 2-1 at Quorn.
He said: "I am very pleased for our coach Chris Powell in winning his first game in charge. All the lads are doing well and it is very important for the younger ones. They needed competition and it is one part of their development .
"I know all the youngsters and it helps them to develop, to be more competitive in games and with all the rest of the players too."
