County faced a strong Man Utd side at Altrincham last night in the Manchester Senior Cup. The Reds included the likes of Wes Brown and Anderson in their starting line-up.
For County, the game saw a welcome return to action for Jordan Rose, who partnered youth team defender Reiss Lee at the back.
And the Hatters thought they were off to the best start possible when Tom Fisher put the ball in the net after two minutes - but unfortunately he was judged to have fouled a defender in the build-up.
County had another chance on 18 minutes, when a Danny Pilkington cross found Proctor in the area - but the Preston youngster's shot didn't really trouble the Utd 'keeper.
County fell behind on 29 minutes. Richie De Laet, a constant threat down the left, beat Andy Halls down the flank and worked his way into the box - unfortunately Reiss Lee was judged to have brought him down in the area, and Will Keane converted the resulting spot-kick.
Not long after, the score could have been levelled when, after county worked the ball in & around the area, David Poole shot from the edge of the D, but it was easily saved.
Another chance came just before half-time when the Hatters had a free-kick from 35 yards out - Jake Simpson curled his shot directly at goal, but also straight into the 'keeper's arms.
Into the second half, and there was a flurry of attempts from Man Utd in the opening minutes.
First, Utd striker Will Keane got himself one-on-one with Owain Fon Williams, but he shot straight at the Welshman. Then Nick Ajose put the ball in the net after a fine pass from Anderson - unfortunately for him, the referee had spotted that he'd used his arm to control it.
Ajose again threatened two minutes later, when his calm lob was tipped over by Fon Williams.
The Hatters spent much of the second half on the back foot, and Rose was required to make an excellent interception when John Cofie was through on goal.
On 69 minutes, a fine Proctor cross found Pilkington on the edge of the area, but his shot took a deflection over.
Three minutes later, Fon Williams was called back into action when he pulled off a double save, first from Ajose's drive from the right-hand side of the box, and then a daisycutter from Ravel Morrison.
On 72 minutes, the Reds made it 2-0 when that man again, John Cofie, who was given too much time to weigh up a shot inside a crowded area - an unsighted Fon Williams had little time to react.
Cofie followed that up with hitting the bar, and County had a chance to pull one back in the dying minutes, but the trialist up front just failed to connect with a cross.
County: Fon Williams; Halls, Wilson, Williams (Graham), Lee, Rose, Proctor (Darkwah), Fisher (Trialist), Simpson, Pilkington.
Unused subs: Kosylo, Parisi.
Attendance: 535
