City’s under-18s narrowly lost out 1-0 to Lincoln City on Saturday morning, at the Lincoln City Elite Performance Centre.
Kyrell Wheatley’s curling second-half effort from the edge of the box was the deciding goal in a tightly-fought contest.
After both playing 120 minutes on Wednesday in the FA Youth Cup, the sides contested a cagey opening period.
The first real chance of note came when Lincoln’s Jersey Lodez swung a low free-kick towards Heath Richardson’s goal, but the City 'keeper dealt with the effort well and parried away.
Jay Tinsdale then came close for the Bantams, when his curling effort from the edge of the box smacked the post of Sam Green’s goal.
Seconds later, the hosts hit the woodwork themselves, when Julian Donnery’s shot deflected off Casey Breaks and struck the post.
After the break, the Bantams started to impose themselves on the game more. Noah Wadsworth found space at the back post from a set-piece but could only direct his shot into the side netting.
Keke Jeffers then did well to shrug off his marker and drive into the box, managing to get a shot away which was denied by an outstretched leg from Green.
Richardson was then called into action again. Bailey Adamson was played in behind one-on-one with Bantams’ stopper, however he made himself big and denied the Lincoln No.9.
Adamson came close again for Lincoln minutes later. He tried to drag his shot across goal, but Richardson again was equal to it and parried out for a corner.
The hosts' pressure then paid, however, and they took the lead with 20 minutes to play. A free-kick taken quickly found Wheatley, who cut inside and curled into the far corner to break the deadlock.
The young Bantams then went searching for an equaliser. Raj Palit’s perfectly-timed ball through the defence found Tinsdale, who could only direct his effort straight at the 'keeper.
Palit was again involved and nearly equalised for City in the closing stages. He showed great feet and skill to avoid the Lincoln defenders, before drilling an effort towards the bottom corner, which Green dived across to deny, condemning Ryan Farrell’s side to defeat.
The side next take on Grimsby Town on Friday, at Bradford (Park Avenue)’s Horsfall Community Stadium.
LINCOLN: Sam Green, Nathan Kabeya, Jersey Lodez, Kye Perkins, Theo Mussell, Darryl Powell, Russell Berko, Oisin Gallagher, Bailey Adamson, Kyrell Wheatley, Julian Donnery. SUBS: Tayo Tucker, Isaac Allan, Deany Oliver, Kobi Bollah, MJ Kamara.
GOALS: Wheatley (70').
CITY: Heath Richardson, Dylan Wilkinson, Casey Breaks, Ian Kamga (Dalghous 45'), Noah Wadsworth (C), Raj Palit, Freddy Jeffreys (N. Tinsdale 45'), Jay Tinsdale, Isaac Robinson, Keke Jeffers (Sedibeh 83'), Donald Kamwa (Ibbitson 45'). SUBS NOT USED: Gabe Wadsworth.