Bradford City reserves 0

Lincoln City reserves 2

Never mind the name, if it's a cup involving City then you can guess the result.

The rule of thumb in knock-out competitions yesterday extended as far as the Pontin's Holiday League Cup. Even the reserves are not immune as Lincoln struck twice in three second-half minutes at Valley Parade.

Lincoln started fast and Nathan Thackeray was straight into action to push away a Martin Carruthers shot after Luke Richardson was caught out looking for an offside flag.

Then Simon Weaver headed against the post before Thackeray and John Swift got in a tangle dealing with another Carruthers effort which the right back just managed to shepherd off the line.

City's young side included only two players with first-team experience and one of them, Kevin Sanasy, showed good technique to meet a long pass from Swift with a volley which was only a foot or so wide.

Strike partner Danny Ekoku hardly featured for half an hour but suddenly burst into life with an audacious 25-yard lob from near the touchline which had Lincoln keeper Simon Rayner back-pedalling.

That kicked off a period of City pressure although the closest they came was from a Lincoln boot when Chris Gordon slammed an attempted clearance against team-mate Gary Taylor-Fletcher and the rebound flashed past the post.

But it was Lincoln who broke the deadlock on the hour. Kevin Sandwith had already tested Thackeray with a 25-yard free-kick two minutes before and when the opportunity arose again, he gave the keeper no chance with a bending shot over the wall.

And the visitors quickly doubled the lead as Carruthers set up Taylor-Fletcher to guide a close-range effort home. City pushed hard and had a big shout for handball against Chris Gordon in the box late on but the referee was unmoved.

At least it's a group format, although City will have to wait until January for their second bite of the cherry against Sheffield United.

CITY RESERVES: Thackeray, Swift, Richardson, Penford, Denton, Wright, Colbeck, Sanasy, Ekoku, Bentham, Littlefair (Doherty 65). Subs (not used): Clifford, McGuire, Ainge, Claisse.