Manchester City booked their place in the Robinsons Brewery Senior Cup Final with a hard-fought win over Bury.

Competing in the new look knock-out competition, George Glendon's clever free-kick was matched by the brilliance of Seko Fofano's 20-yard volley to ensure that Clive Platt's close-range effort counted for nothing.

It was a tough result for Bury to take as although City started the brighter, the Shakers were much the better side for long spells of the game and were only pipped by a flash of brilliance. 

Throughout the opening stages, Isaac Buckey-Ricketts strength and pace caused the Bury back-line problems and his headed effort should have done more to test Rob Lainton early on.

It took the Blues just 13 minutes to break the deadlock, however, following an injection of pace from Fofana. The powerful midfielder left defenders trailing in his wake as he burst through the middle to lay off Buckey-Ricketts, who was felled just outside the area.

Though the visitors optimistically called for a penalty, it made no difference to George Glendon whose clipped effort beat the outstretched Lainton and opened the scoring.

The Blues could have doubled their advantage not long after as Lainton saved well from Buckey-Ricketts and again as City's lively number nine saw a header glance wide of the post.

Patrick Vieira's side would eventually come to regret those missed chances as the Shakers gained a foothold in the game. Danny Rose headed over from close range, before Chris Hussey's cross caused substitute Tosin Adarabioyo to almost turn the ball into his own goal - only for Angus Gunn to gather well.

The hosts ended the first half the stronger of the two teams and their intensity didn't drop after the break as Hussey saw an effort sail inches wide of the goal just seconds after the restart.

Danny Rose then hit the woodwork as Bury continued to threaten and Gunn again had to be at his best to save down low from James Poole.

Just moments later, however, the City shot-stopper was picking the ball from out of his goal. Despite preventing Rose from sliding home, Gunn could only palm away to Platt who was on hand to tap home the equaliser.

All square and both in search of that next vital goal, the two sides traded blows as Holmes and Fofana both pulled excellent stops out of either goalkeeper. Holmes went even closer by hitting the post after a mazy run that had City beaten all ends up, before Namane and Fofana were both somehow denied on the line.

City would eventually restore their lead, however, as a Fofana let fly with a volley that nestled into the bottom corner and Gunn would have the final say as he denied Anthony Dudley with just seconds left on the clock to tie up victory and assure his side's place in the final.