United's Reserves beat Manchester City in their final game of 2006 thanks to goals from Kieran Richardson and Alan Smith, while long-term absentee Ji-sung Park added gloss to the evening by completing 45 minutes of action.
The Korean winger, out of action since early September after damaging ankle ligaments, looked lively in tricky, saturated conditions and showed no ill effects before being withdrawn at half time.
Park, Smith and Richardson were part of a strong side named by Brian McClair and Jim Ryan, with Tomasz Kuszczak replacing Tom Heaton in goal.
The monsoon-style conditions did little to aid the flow of the game in the opening minutes as both sides were restricted to half-chances in a slow start.
City's Ched Evans flashed a header just wide of Kuszczak's post after 11 minutes, while Smith had a close-range effort deflected over shortly afterwards following Richardson's quick free-kick.
Richardson moved United into the lead in first-half injury time with a beautiful curling free-kick from the edge of the area, a moment of class totally out of keeping with the rest of a bitty, needle-filled first half.
Shocked into life by the Reds' opener, City started the second half well on top, and Kuszczak needed to be alert to save Kelvin Etuhu's swerving strike with his feet.
Despite being on the back foot for the opening five minutes of the half, United soon found their rhythm again and doubled their advantage as Smith scored his first goal since returning from injury.
Aaron Burns pressured City keeper Joe Hart into a hashed clearance, and Smith arced a fine lob into the unguarded goal with the outside of his foot from over 25 yards to effectively bury the game.
Smith was a whisker away from getting onto a great Michael Barnes cross, while Hart made a superb save to deny Aaron Burns from close range as United continued to forge the better openings.
Kieran Lee sent a long-range effort into Hart's arms, and the Blues stopper flung himself to his left to keep out Jamie Mullan's speculative effort as time ticked away.
Kuszczak produced a fine reaction stop to turn Evans' 20-yard drive over the bar with five minutes remaining, and pulled off another close-range stop from the same player but that was City's final threat.
United held on to notch their third win of the season over their local rivals, pointing the way for Sir Alex Ferguson's first team ahead of Saturday's senior derby at Old Trafford.
That's ours.....
