City reserves 3 Southport reserves 1

 Bradford City’s youth team booked a date with Crewe Alexandra in the second round of the FA Youth Cup at Valley Parade last night.

David Wetherall’s side progressed thanks to a blistering opening to the second half when Ryan Harrison and Dominic Rowe, with a brace, blasted the Bantams into a three-goal lead.

Southport substitute Jake Ellis responsed for the Sandgrounders but it proved to be mere consolation as the Bantams under-18s ran out victors.

As the midway point of the first half approached, City striker Oliver Forsyth nearly added another goal to his season’s tally.

Forsyth, who has netted eight times already this season, found himself bearing down on Southport’s goal after a long Chris Elliott goal-kick fell kindly into his path. Unfortunately, he was denied by a superb last-ditch tackle by Shaun Holden as the young forward looked set to pull the trigger.

City’s youngsters roared out of the blocks in the second period, opening the scoring 30 seconds in.

Forsyth came in from a wide position to feed Harrison in space. The winger drove with purpose into the Southport area, before beating Damien Eastham with a powerfully-struck effort.

Elliott was then called upon to maintain the Bantams’ lead as he produced a useful save at full stretch to deny Connor Millington.

The young City keeper’s save was to prove even more vital as seconds later, Wetherall’s side grabbed their second of the match.

A perfectly-timed pass by Ben Green played in Rowe behind the Southport defence. As Rowe bore down on goal, he cooly chipped the advancing Eastham as the Southport keeper dived at his feet.

The tie was put beyond the visitors’ reach when a long teasing cross from Andrew Villermann was flicked on by Forsyth into the path of the unmarked Rowe, who was able to slot the ball past Eastham.

Southport hit back when substitue Jake Ellis placed a delightful effort past Elliott from the edge of the penaltry area.

City reserves: Elliott, Cutler, Villermann, Flett, Robinson, Hudson (Collantine 82), Rowe (Clarke 69), Green, Stephenson (Holmes 90), Forsyth, Harrison. Substitutes not used: Cheetham, Mitchell.