City’s under-18s fell to a 2-1 defeat against Morecambe in the EFL Youth Alliance Cup group stage.
Goals from Morecambe’s Bryan Ly and Daniel Foden were enough to see off the young Bantams at their Woodhouse Grove training base.
The Shrimps opened the scoring early in the first half when a cross into the City area failed to be dealt with - which allowed Ly to tap in from close range.
Having proved unable to respond ahead of half-time, Mark Trueman’s side entered the break behind.
City were awarded a penalty in the opening moments of the second half when forward Dylan Youmbi was bought down by goalkeeper Harry O’Brien.
Youmbi stepped up to take the penalty and successfully converted as the first-year scholar put the Bantams on level terms.
However, the visitors quickly regained the lead, when a mix-up in the Bantams’ defence was capitalised on by winger Daniel Foden who produced a neat finish to put the away side back in front.
Despite the Bantams’ late push for an equaliser, the visitors would hang onto their lead and come away with the victory.
CITY: Tom Donaghy; Harvey Rowe, Luke Harrop, Sam Bentley, Oliver Norman; George Thewlis, Charlie Wood ©, Olivier Sukiennicki, Dylan Youmbi; Cole Roberts, Connor Morris. Subs: Raj Palit, Leke Ajibode, Casey Breaks, Harvey Ormerod, Yahaya Tunkara.
GOALS: Youmbi (pen).
MORECAMBE: Harry O’Brien; Lewis Connolly, Connor Pye, Bobby Flitcroft, Ayo Shogbeni; Josh Morton, Mani Davidson, Adi Ginn, Ben Jones; Benn Lowe, Jamie Nicholson. Subs: Jack Greenwood, Bryan Ly, Daniel Foden, Keallan Huddlesion, Joe Lowton.
GOALS: Ly, Foden.