Tranmere Reserves crashed to a 3-0 defeat at home to Manchester City in the Pontin's Holidays League on Wednesday night.

Rovers fielded a young side with no players with first team experience, while the left wing position was taken by Dutch triallist Thijs Sluijter.

Tom Beahon came close inside the first minute with a shot from 25 yards but the visitors took the lead on 16 minutes when Paul Marshall's free kick deflected off the wall and past Shane McWeeney.

Terry Gornell saw several shots saved by Filip Mentel and Sluijter forced a save with a header from Mike Blundell's cross.

Two second half goals in two minutes sealed the win for City. First, Angelos Tsialklis found the top corner from outside the area, and the midfielder set up the third for David Ball on 57 minutes.

In the final minute Rovers were reduced to ten men when Aaron Cresswell was sent off for a high tackle.

Tranmere: McWeeney, Denson, Ash Taylor, Holmes, Cresswell, Blundell, Henry (Wilson 70), Beahon, Sluijter, Macauley (Fraughan 70), Gornell. Substitutes not used: Kennedy, Mitchell, Richardson.