Darlington Res 0 Bradford City Res 0

Bradford City and Darlington shared the spoils in their first round-robin game in the Pon-tin's Holidays League Cup, drawing an entertaining game 0-0 in freezing conditions at the 96.6 TFM Darling-ton Arena.

City made the early pace, Nick Smith's forceful run in the third minute through the centre of midfield ending with a shot from the edge of the area, forcing David Stock-dale to dive to his left and turn the ball away for a corner.

Shaun Reay rode a late challenge from Mark Wilson, the former Manchester United and Middlesbrough midfielder who is on trial with City, and ran towards the oncoming Ben Saynor but the City keeper plucked the ball safely from the Quakers' midfielder's feet.

And Saynor had to have his wits about him seconds later when, in a goalmouth mle, his lightning reactions prevented a goal-bound McLeod header.

In the 13th minute, City were unlucky when Luke Morgan's attempt on goal from the left wing went agonisingly along the goal-line before Stockdale gathered the ball at full stretch.

The second half started with Sean Taylforth on for Morgan, Darlington replacing Phil Stamp with Simon Todd.

Six minutes into the half, Joe Colbeck and John Swift combined well on the right, Colbeck swinging the ball into the Darlington area where Wilson was waiting, but his final touch let him down.

In the 57th minute, Colbeck received the ball from Nick Smith just inside the Darling-ton half and ran down the wing, cutting inside and let ting fly with a blistering shot which nearly knocked Stock-dale off his feet.

City were now piling forward and minutes later it was Taylforth's turn to be denied when his effort went fractionally wide.

Damian Hopkins was book-ed for bringing down Anthony Peacock, who had turned Simon Ainge and was about to do the same to Hopkins.

From the resulting free-kick, Peacock's shot went over the City wall to Saynor, who parried well, the ball falling to Logan who headed over.

Saynor was then forced to bring off a string of saves to deny the Quakers the points.

Darlington: Stockdale, Davis, James (W Clark W), Stamp (Todd), Vaisanen, Janes, Reay (J Wright), McLeod, Logan, Peacock, McIntosh. Subs: Hardman, N Wright.

Bradford City: Saynor, Swift (Bellamy), O'Brien, Wilson, Hopkins, Ainge, Colbeck, McGuire, N Smith (Osborne), Harper, Morgan (Taylforth) Subs: Sharry, Mitchell.