City’s under-18s fell to a 4-2 defeat against Scunthorpe United - having been reduced to nine men - in the EFL Youth Alliance North East division.
A hat-trick from Scunthorpe’s Joey Dawson proved to be enough for the visitors to secure victory at the Bantams’ Woodhouse Grove training base.
After a goalless opening 41 minutes, the away side was awarded a penalty when City defender Luke Harrop committed a foul inside the area.
Joey Dawson stepped up to take the spot-kick and made no mistake to give Scunthorpe a 1-0 lead going into the interval.
City responded early in the second half when forward Dylan Youmbi struck from close range to equalise.
Mark Trueman’s joy would only last a matter of moments as Scunthorpe were then awarded a second penalty of the match which was once again converted by Joey Dawson.
To make matters worse, Bantams goalkeeper Tom Donaghy had been dismissed for a second-bookable offence when giving away the penalty.
Despite being a man down, City bought the contest level again thanks to a close-range goal from Cole Roberts as the Bantams continued to rally.
However, much the Bantams’ first equaliser, their second was short lived as just over a minute later, the Iron's Harry Lewis would blast home to put the visitors in to a 3-2 lead.
Things got more difficult for the young Bantams with around 20 minutes remaining when they were reduced to nine men.
George Thewlis was given a straight red card after committing a foul which denied a goalscoring opportunity.
The visitors sealed the three points in added time when Dawson went one-on-one with Darryl Ombang and slotted past the young substitute goalkeeper to seal his hat-trick and victory for the visitors.
CITY: Tom Donaghy (dismissed 49’); Harvey Rowe (Darry Ombang 50’), Luke Harrop (Harvey Ormerod 90+3’), Tanaka Maumbe, Oliver Norman; George Thewlis (dismissed 68’), Charlie Wood ©, Olivier Sukiennicki, Bobby Pointon; Dylan Youmbi (Conor Morris 90+3’), Cole Roberts. Subs (not used): Yahaha Tunkara, Raj Palit.
GOALS: Youmbi (48'), Roberts (57').
SCUNTHORPE: Jake Balme; Harry Baker ©, Joey Dawson, Dan Gallimore, Harry Lewis; Harry Griffin, Alex Wilkinson, Cam Wilson (Finn Abraham 90+3’), Jamie Moore; Harvey Cribb, Harry Elliott-Bell. Subs (not used): Ben Crasher, Matty Hewitt, George Burton.
GOALS: Dawson (42' pen, 50', 90+2'), Lewis (58').