Bantams 'keeper Matt Duke was given a run-out for the reserves as City's second-string drew 1-1 with Grimsby Town at the Coral Windows Stadium in their penultimate fixture of the season.
Duke was the only senior player on show at Valley Parade in a City side packed full of apprentices and trialists.
The reserves got off to a great start in their match with the Mariners when they were awarded a penalty with less than eight minutes gone for a foul in the area on Louie Swain by Grimsby defender Hamish Falconer.
Swain's strike partner Oliver McBurnie took responsibility for the kick and coolly slotted home the penalty into the bottom right corner.
City's lead would only last around five minutes, however, as trialist Daniel Man proceeded to draw Grimsby level with an unfortunate own goal.
The midfielder had looked to simply move play back to Duke, but his attempted pass was massively over-hit and the ball flew past a helpless Bantams shot-stopper and into the net.
City's reserves, who would go on to enjoy the better of the opening period, had chances to re-establish their lead later in the half but McBurnie and Swain were both denied by good saves from Grimsby 'keeper Aaron Busby.
As agreed before the match, Duke was withdrawn at half time and replaced by apprentice goalkeeper Jack Bentley for the second half.
In a slightly more evenly-balanced second period, both sides enjoyed chances to net the game's third goal.
Grimsby's Tom Davie planted a header off-target from close range when unmarked at a corner shortly after the restart, while Man and McBurnie headed narrowly wide of the target at the other end for the Bantams.
Nathan Curtis also went close for City when he fired a low angled drive from inside the area just past Busby's far post.
The Bantams nearly won it injury time but a fierce header by trialist Jackson Patillo from a corner was repelled by Busby before McBurnie fired just over the bar from a tight angle on the rebound.