City’s under-18s claimed their first win in five on Saturday, emerging 3-2 victors at Scunthorpe United.
In a game they commanded from the off, the young Bantams returned to winning ways to maintain their challenge for the EFL Youth Alliance North East Division title.
The game started an even, end-to-end affair, but it was City - on 26 minutes - who drew first blood.
Jake Maltby received the ball 30 yards from goal and, after driving to create an angle for a diagonal ball into the area, picked out Eliot Goldthorp who brought it down, cut onto his right foot and fired home.
Mark Trueman's side were full of confidence after taking the lead and doubled their advantage just four minutes later.
Another long ball from Maltby found skipper Jeremie Milambo who beat two players on his way into the box. His low centre found Under-16 Connor Morris who was denied at the near post, but Wade Ripley buried the rebound to put City 2-0 up inside half an hour.
Scunthorpe showed, towards the end of the half, signs of threat and – after starting the second period similarly dangerous - pulled one back on the hour when the ball fell to the feet of Harry Jessop inside the area and he guided it past Alfie Darke.
But City restored their two-goal advantage their performance deserved just two minutes later with a sumptuous team move.
After the ball was switched to Ripley on the right-hand side, he got the better of his man to square for Morris. He guided it back into the path of the onrushing Dan Francis who staked his claim for a regular starting berth with a neat finish.
There was still time for the hosts to rally and - in added time - Finley Shrimpton headed in a second to give The Iron hope, but City hung on for their first away victory in the league since late September to climb up to 5th in the table.
CITY: Alfie Darke; Hayden Smethurst, Finn Cousin-Dawson, Reece Staunton, Jeremie Milambo (c) (booked 90+1’); Jake Maltby (Charlie Wood 84’), Dan Francis (Harvey Rowe 84’), Eliot Goldthorp; Wade Ripley (Kian Scales 65’), Connor Morris (Cole Roberts 76’), Connor Shanks.
GOALS: Goldthorp (26’), Ripley (30’), Francis (62’).
SCUNTHORPE: Tom Collins; Harry Baker (booked 90+1), Charlie Barks (booked 89’), Jack Harrison (c), Oliver Lobley; Nathan Claxton, Harry Jessop, Dan Gallimore (Ollie Kemp 86’); Finley Shrimpton, Joey Dawson, Luca Chadli (Alex Wilkinson 76’). SUBS (not used): Ben Crosher, Cam Wilson.
GOALS: Jessop (60’), Shrimpton (90+2’).
MAN OF THE MATCH: Connor Shanks.