Bradford City Reserves 4, Scunthorpe Reserves 1

Ryan Kendall, whose loan spell from Hull has been extended until the end of the season, scored twice tonight as City Reserves defeated Scunthorpe Reserves 4-1 in the totesport.com League East.

The returning Matthew Clarke had already scored for the Bantams’ second strings before Kendall’s double and, although Matt Godden pulled one back for the Iron, Luke Dean wrapped things up with a well-taken goal on the stroke of full-time.

Luke O’Brien, one of the heroes of the first team’s win over Barnet on Saturday, played for the first half.

With respective first-team managers Peter Taylor and Nigel Adkins watching from the stands, both teams were keen to impress.

Clarke's goal in the seventh minute came when he held off the attentions of Ashley Palmer to stoop low and head home O'Brien's corner from close range.

Adriano Moke then forced Iron keeper Sam Slocombe to dive full length to prevent the ball from finding the bottom corner.

Scunthorpe's young side were just getting into the contest when Kendall scored in the 28th minute, getting behind their defence to prod the ball past Slocombe.

Just five minutes later, Kendall made it 3-0, Moke and Luke Sharry combining well to send him clear, the Bantam showing great compsoure to slot the ball past the onrushing keeper.

A Clarke error gave Scunthorpe hope just before half-time, his casual back-pass to keeper Matthew Convey being intercepted by the lurking Godden.

The same player almost scored early in the second half, his shot whistling past a post with Convey beaten, but Ben Wilkinson then tested Slocombe, forcing him to save neatly.

Convey then almost had a 'Paul Robinson moment', swinging and missing as he aimed at substitute Rory Carson's backpass, the ball fortunately only going out for a corner.

Kendall was denied his hat-trick on the hour when Slocombe stood tall to palm away an effort after Louis Horne had put the City player away.

Spurred on by this save, the visitors went close twice through Adam Boyes and Godden.

Exciting youth team prospect Darren Stephenson replaced Moke in the 70th minute and almost scored with his first touch, his close-range effort being prodded off the line after a Bantams corner.

Fellow substitute Ryan Harrison nearly scored too, Dallas Moore blocking well, and Slocombe was forced to finger-tip Wilkinson's fierce drive over the bar.

There was nothing the Iron keeper could do moments later, however, as Dean picked out the bottom corner from the edge of the area.

In added time, Sharry came within inches of making it 5-1 with a curling effort.

Bradford City Reserves: Matthew Convey, Phil Cutler, Luke O'Brien, Louis Horne, Andrew Villermann, Matthew Clarke, Ben Wilkinson, Luke Dean, Luke Sharry, Adriano Moke, Ryan Kendall. Substitutes: Rory Carson (for O'Brien, HT), Christopher Cheetham, Ryan Harrison (for Villermann, 30min), Adam Robinson, Darren Stephenson (for Moke, 70min).

Scunthorpe United Reserves: Sam Slocombe, Jake Picton, Rory Coleman, Dallas Moore, Ashley Palmer, Jonathan Williams, Aaron Wint, Sam Comer, Adam Boyes, Matt Godden, Jordan Thewlis. Substitutes: Jake Turner, Scott Matthews, Callum Howe (for Wint, 65min), Ash Jackson (for Thewlis, 83min).