Bradford Park Avenue 0, Bradford City 3

PHIL Parkinson used last night's Bradford derby as a public audition with a cast list that would have meant little to the watching City fans.

With eight trialists in the starting line-up at Horsfall and another on the bench, it was down to individuals to stand out from the crowd.

Achille Campion and Mo Shariff did just that to present their case to the watching manager as City kept their grip on the Tom Banks Memorial Trophy.

Campion scored all three goals and, even against limited opposition, you cannot do much more than that as a centre forward looking to impress.

Busy winger Shariff, meanwhile, darted here, there and everywhere and saw more touches of the ball than anyone before cramp kicked in midway through the second half.

The three trialists added from the weekend were former Cardiff right back Luke Coulson, ex-Liverpool central midfielder Craig Rodden and Scottish winger Danny Galbraith – whose claim to fame is a last-minute winner for Hibernian at Celtic four years ago.

The only 'staffers' in the first 11 were captain for the night James Meredith, Jason Kennedy and young striker Lewis Clarkson, who lasted only 20 minutes before hobbling off with a sore hamstring.

There were as many familiar former City faces in Avenue colours – 2008 player of the year Joe Colbeck, Chib Chilaka and Scott Kerr.

Colbeck, who made 116 appearances for the club, joined with Kerr from Grimsby in the summer. He now combines part-time football with a job fitting carpets.

The lot of the trialist is to catch the eye quickly and while Coulson had an uncomfortable start, Shariff quickly showed some nifty close control on the right wing.

Chilaka, who pulled his hamstring in the corresponding friendly a year ago, should have made the first chance count after Colbeck put him through but his finish lacked composure and flew wide.

Campion sprayed a lovely ball wide for Coulson on the overlap but then blew his opportunity to fire City in front, hammering against the bar with only former Doncaster keeper John Maxsted to beat.

Avenue responded by hitting the woodwork themselves as Brad Barraclough latched on to Chris Howarth's pass before Matt Urwin touched his effort on to the post.

On the day that City unveiled their shirt numbers for the new season, Clarkson's early exit highlighted the slim resources at Phil Parkinson's disposal beneath the first team.

The hopefuls trying to fill those gaps combined again for another good City chance as Shariff's corner was headed against a defender by Campion. The ball fell invitingly to Christopher Routis but the centre half scuffed it wide from six yards.

It was an open game with some decent stuff from both sides. City's makeshift group were knocking the ball around well, particularly the confident Shariff, but he then blotted his copybook with an awful blind pass in his own half that could have let in Chilaka.

The surprise was that it was still goalless – but that all changed right on the break with a City one-two for Campion.

The Frenchman, who has been on trial with three different clubs already this pre-season, tapped home the opener after good work from Meredith and Reggie Lambe.

Within seconds, he had another from a stooping header as Galbraith lobbed a pass over the static white shirts just before the half-time whistle sounded.

It was here in 2012 that Zavon Hines convinced Parkinson he was worth a punt. Shariff was trying hard to follow suit and forced a good save from Maxsted straight after the restart.

The former QPR product then cut in to supply Lambe running towards the box but the Bermudian tried to work the ball on his stronger right foot and Avenue were able to shut the door.

Shariff thought he had the goal to reward his efforts when Coulson picked him out with a precise cross but Maxsted blocked well with his legs.

But City – and Campion – had their third just before the hour, with the French forward converting another Galbraith assist at the near post.

The Bantams voluntarily went down to ten men for the closing minutes as Meredith and Kennedy left the action.

Avenue trialists Josiah Donaldson whipped in a couple of useful crosses but there was no consolation for the hosts.

Campion nearly had a fourth and the game finished with Lambe shooting inches past the post.

Avenue: Maxsted, Howarth, Drury, Kerr, Hewitt, Mallory, Chilaka (Donaldson 74), Hotte, Barraclough (Hamilton 70), James, Colbeck. Subs: Miller, Morgan, Hume.

City: Urwin, Coulson, Routis, Bryan, Meredith (sub 78), Shariff (Landu 68), Kennedy (Heaton 78), Rodden, Lambe, Campion, Clarkson (Galbraith 20).