It's not a bad life, being a Manchester City footballer. Most of the time.

On paper, Friday's FA Youth Cup clash was a big deal. The defending champions, walking out at home, under the lights, past the trophy they won last season.

But the realities of football hit home on Friday, with the third round tie vs Crystal Palace played in the middle of a storm as sheets of rain lashed around the (very open) Academy Stadium to thwart City's usual flowing football. The only thing flowing here were the drains.

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City goalkeeper Max Hudson spilled a routine shot early on, before his opposite number tried to punch a high ball only for it to fly backwards and into trouble. Passes were routinely overrunning, slide-tackles were uncontrollable, and City's young stars were not just running into Crystal Palace defenders but a wall of constant rain.

If Storm Darragh was playing in this game, he would have been the standout performer by far. It was hardly conditions for any sort of tactical battle or clash of styles.

So that meant that whoever played the conditions better would win. Reigan Heskey tested the goalkeeper and Matty Warhurst - scorer in last season's final - saw a free header fly over.

Oliver Reiss' side literally weathered the first half storm, waiting for the rain to stop and were able to finally put their foot on the ball in the second half. Divine Mukasa, Heskey and Warhurst were denied in a one-sided second half.

It was a game that would always be settled by a single moment. Substitute Dan Batty jinked past a defender in the area late on to slot home just when extra-time loomed, sending City into the next round.

Batty's impact won the game, Heskey looked bright again, and defender Kian Noble kept things watertight at the back. Job done.