AVENUE 2 CITY 2

ON THE day that Premier League and Championship clubs came under-fire for entering B teams in the EFL Trophy, City fielded their own side of fairly unknowns at Horsfall Stadium.

Stuart McCall spared all his senior players with an eye firmly on Saturday’s final friendly against Carlisle at Valley Parade.

So the City line-up for last night’s Bradford derby had a completely unfamiliar look, made up entirely of young lads and trialists.

McCall was there but happy to take a back-seat up in the press box as assistant Kenny Black and head of academy coaching Steve Thornber took dug-out duty on the other side of the ground.

Five trialists were in the starting XI including Liam Agnew, making his fourth appearance, and Polish striker Vincent Rabiega back from his hamstring tweak.

Of the youngsters on view, Danny Devine once again raised his burgeoning reputation back in his natural role in central midfield. He looked more effective in there than Agnew, who looks unlikely to be kept on despite his extended opportunity.

McCall is still in the market for cover at left back so two of the trialists filled in there, Belgian Jordi Malela – once of Standard Liege - and Irishman Rory McKeown, formerly Raith Rovers.

Rabiega, joined up front by former Slovenia under-21 international Ziga Kastrevec, was determined to make up for lost time having missed the Scotland trip.

It was on this ground two years ago that trialist Achille Campion notched a hat-trick – but failed to land a contract.

Rabiega took a leaf out of his book with two goals in a busy first half that saw chances at both ends.

City keeper Rouven Sattelmaier reacted well to touch Nicky Boshell’s low curler on to the base of the post before the visitors grabbed a 19th-minute lead.

It was a trialist-to-trialist effort, Malela feeding the through ball for Rabiega to carefully pick his way round keeper Ryan Jones to slot home.

Rabiega had a second nine minutes later, again from Malela’s bright work on the left. His cross hit a defender and broke for the Pole to finish from ten yards.

Reece Webb-Foster almost made it three against the club where he enjoyed a brief loan in April – and would love to take him back. But the experienced Matt Hill denied him on the line.

Then it was Agnew’s turn to save City’s bacon with a goalline clearance from Nicky Wroe, coming off the post from a corner to cover the gaping net.

Joe Cracknell replaced Sattelmaier, who had looked composed in goal, for the second half and pulled off a stunning save to push Jack Ryan’s header on to the bar.

But he could not prevent Avenue hitting back twice in a four-minute spell.

A long ball opened up City for Chris Sharp to net the first and then, after the sub’s shot smashed into Cracknell’s face, Wroe rammed an emphatic equaliser.

Malela had looked a threat in the first half as a winger but did not look anywhere near as comfortable defensively when he swapped roles with McKeown after the break.

After both Avenue goals had stemmed from his side, McCall put the message out to switch them both back round.

Malela immediately fed Webb-Foster who snatched at a cross-shot when he could have taken an extra touch, although the bobbly surface had been a challenge throughout.

Avenue pushed for a late winner and Boshell proved too strong for a tiring Alex Laird but his low shot was held by Cracknell.

Then Malela whipped in a dangerous corner which Laird missed and Sam Wright bundled against the back post.

With the final score level, the Tom Banks Memorial Trophy could have been settled by penalties – Geoffrey Richmond once took one in a shoot-out many years earlier.

But the watching Edin Rahic resisted the temptation to don his boots as the teams were happy to call it a draw.

CITY: Sattelmaier (Cracknell 46), Boateng (Windle 73), McKeown, Laird, Wright, Webb-Foster, Devine, Agnew, Kastrevec (N Payne 64), Rabiega, Malela. Subs (not used): Powell, Warren.

AVENUE: Jones, Whittington, McWilliams, Dean, Coates, Hill, Osborne, Wroe, Ryan, Boshell, Davie. Subs: Sharp, Eccles, Assonso, Noblet, S Payne, Dickinson, McKenna.