Huddersfield Town 2 Bradford City 1

It started as the home cheers still rang out for James Vaughan’s second goal of the night.

You know the tune well from last season. That one about promotion and not giving a “fig” because it’s only a cup.

It became an ironic soundtrack of City’s record-breaking run to Wembley. This time it was the booming backdrop of a first-round exit against the not very noisy neighbours.

City were the first finalists to start the following season in round one for 12 years and became only the second to fall at this stage. It previously happened in 1962 to Rochdale, the other fourth-tier team that went all the way.

Now up a division, the Capital One Cup is not a necessity for Phil Parkinson’s men. Nobody can ever take away the fond memories but in the grand scheme of 2013-2014, establishing themselves in League One is all that matters.

That’s not to say that pride was not dented by defeat in last night’s local derby. But however much some may try to dress it up, it was no cup final when you’ve been to a real one so recently.

Vaughan, whose goal against Barnsley on the final day of last season prevented this becoming a league fixture this term, scored two more.

But a late strike from Nahki Wells, who had come off the bench, ensured City at least had the final say in defeat.

Huddersfield boss Mark Robins had been in the crowd at Villa Park in January when James Hanson’s header completed City’s epic journey to Wembley. So he knew not to take anything for granted against the renowned giant-killers.

Nor was he fooled by the multi-changed visiting line-up that kicked off in front of 4,000 boisterous away fans.

Parkinson had advertised that changes would be made to give everyone a run-out in the opening week and there were seven different faces from Saturday’s first 11.

The watching Greg Abbott, who returns to Valley Parade on Saturday with Carlisle, would not have learned much.

Only Jon McLaughlin, Stephen Darby, Nathan Doyle and Garry Thompson remained – with two of those moving positions.

Thompson went up front alongside Alan Connell, a partnership that started three cup ties last season against Burton, Northampton and Port Vale. Doyle dropped back to centre half to partner debutant Matt Taylor.

Vaughan tried an over-ambitious overhead kick and Joel Lynch headed well wide from the first corner but the opening exchanges held no fear for the visitors.

City had their first chance to pressure Alex Smithies in the Huddersfield goal as Kyel Reid was fouled near the touchline 20 yards out. But the keeper came through the pack to punch away Raffaele De Vita’s free-kick.

The Italian then headed Reid’s deep corner straight into Smithies as Phil Parkinson’s men began to find their feet.

For a local derby, the first quarter was fairly featureless, which suited City down to the ground. After the experiences of last year, they were not fazed by the occasion and kept in a disciplined shape.

Reid was a willing outlet as always but his runs produced mixed results and he failed to impress referee Mark Haywood or the crowd with a fall on the edge of the D.

Huddersfield tried to lift the home fans with three corners in as many minutes but Anthony Gerrard failed to get any direction on headers from the first two and Jack Hunt almost took out the corner flag with a wild thrash from the third.

A mistake by Hunt gave Huddersfield’s defence its first moment of discomfort. The right wing back carelessly passed straight to Connell on the edge of the box and his teasing low cross was turned away from the keeper by a sliding Peter Clarke.

Jonathan Hogg was in the Watford side humbled by City a year ago in round two and the Huddersfield summer signing was close to gaining some revenge with a 25-yard blast that rattled the stanchion beside the goal – the first genuine chance of the evening.

But that was quickly followed with the opening goal. Stephen Darby cleared off the line from Adam Clayton after the former Leeds winger had cleverly danced his way through but the danger was far from over.

With the City fans still singing the right back’s praises, the ball ricocheted into Vaughan’s path 18 yards out and he drove hard and low past McLaughlin.

Coming right on half-time, it was a real blow for the Bantams. They responded with another corner – their fourth in the opening 45 minutes – but a brief scramble in the area failed to test Smithies.

Both sides swapped corners after the restart but it was Huddersfield – and Vaughan again – who made the first decisive strike of the half.

Adam Hammill, who had replaced Hunt at the break, whipped in a cross from the right and Vaughan’s powerful header flew past McLaughlin.

Having struggled to create anything of note up to that point, City had a huge task on their hands. Thompson tried to respond as he wriggled between the centre halves but his effort on goal was tame.

A foul on the edge of the box then gave Reid a chance but his free-kick curled over the near post.

That was Parkinson’s cue to call for the cavalry from a power-packed bench. On came Hanson, Wells and James Meredith for De Vita, Connell and Taylor. Thompson returned to his regular right-wing role and McHugh moved into the centre of defence.

Hanson was straight into the thick of it with an early header but Huddersfield, even without Vaughan, who had made way to a standing ovation, threatened a third as Clayton found room to have a pop from distance.

Parkinson swapped his wingers round as they looked for a way through but there was little hint of a second fightback in four days. There was plenty of willing from the amber shirts but not enough guile to pick their way past a well-drilled backline.

Then suddenly Wells, who else, offered a lifeline with a thumping strike right on full time. Picking up the ball almost 30 yards out, he hammered a low drive past Smithies – a similar finish to Vaughan’s first but further out.

It proved to be a defiant farewell. Two corners in stoppage time provided an anxious finale for Huddersfield before bragging rights were assured.