A youthful City side, led by professional development phase coach Ryan Farrell, fell to defeat in the club’s final pre-season fixture ahead of the 2022/23 campaign, losing 3-2 to neighbours Eccleshill United.
A Cole Roberts double saw the young Bantams head in at half-time level at 2-2, before a further Eagles goal after the break clinched victory for the hosts at the Mitton Group Stadium.
It was City who started the brighter, taking the lead just six minutes into the contest, through Cole Roberts.
The young Bantams worked the ball well around the final third, with Ali Dalghous surging down the left-hand side and drilling across goal, where Roberts waited to convert from close range.
Four minutes later, though, and the hosts were level, after Dalghous brought down a blue shirt inside the penalty area.
Midfielder Andrew Cooper stepped up to send Munro Gellan the wrong way and restore parity.
Farrell’s side kept the pressure on however, and made it pay just after the half-hour mark, as Roberts doubled his and his side’s tally.
Captain Bobby Pointon darted to the byline and pulled across goal for his fellow first-year professional, who made no mistake from close range.
Just moments later however, and Eccleshill were level again through Taku, who had rattled the crossbar immediately after the game had restarted following Roberts’ second.
The left-winger would not be denied for long, however, as he headed home Andrew Cooper’s set-piece at the near post shortly after to ensure the sides went in level at the break.
The hosts grew in confidence in the second half, enjoying the majority of the play, and took the lead for the first time in the contest just after the hour mark.
The dangerous Taku again burst forward and drove a shot goalwards, which Gellan was unable to hold onto, allowing the substitute forward to steal in and scramble over the line.
City again pushed forward in an attempt to salvage something from the game, and struck the post with 73 minutes on the clock, as Keke Jeffers saw his effort cannon back out from close range.
The young Bantams proved unable to create anything further, as the hosts ran out victorious.
CITY: Munro Gellan (GK), Nathan Tinsdale, Ali Dalghous, Freddie Jeffreys, Noah Wadsworth, Casey Breaks, Bobby Pointon (C), Cole Roberts, Dylan Youmbi, Jack Wilson, Raj Palit. SUBS: Jeffers, Hadi, Wilkinson, Gledhill, G.Wadsworth, Sedibeh, Ibbitson, Kamwa, Edgley, Robinson.
GOALS: Roberts (6’, 32’).