Farsley Celtic 0, City 3

IT CAN be dangerous, and often a bit silly, to base too much on a pre-season friendly – especially the first of the bunch.

But nobody who packed Throstle Nest on Saturday could have been left in any doubt about one thing. James Hanson is back.

A penny for Millwall's thoughts, anyone?

After his summer dalliance with the Den, City's centre forward made it very clear where his focus lies with a barnstorming 45-minute return to football.

It wasn't just the two trademark headers, though they were proof enough, but his general all-round effort against Farsley's game but outclassed part-timers. Hanson was on it from the start.

The lift of wearing the captain's armband no doubt provided added inspiration for the club's longest-server. He certainly delivered a skipper's performance, chasing down everything and looking a constant goal threat.

A City hat-trick, at any level, still frustratingly eludes him – and he had a couple of decent attempts to hit that treble. But this was the Hanson that can bully opponents far better than those of the Evo-Stik League.

Having tested Tom Taylor with a meaty half-volley, Hanson opened his account with a booming header after Filipe Morais whipped in the cross from a short corner.

And he was soon at it again, nodding home at the near post after being teed up by Sanchez Watt – one of six trialists to get a part of the game.

They were Hanson's first goals since February when he got a double before half-time at Leyton Orient, straining a hamstring in the process and starting the downward injury spiral for the rest of the campaign.

Taylor smartly denied him a hat-trick of headers but by that point the Farsley keeper had gifted Watt a third after failing to hold on to Luke Hendrie's low centre.

Hendrie was one of two offspring of famous footballing names on display. John's son, playing at right back, was joined on the left wing by Harrison Gilkes, whose dad Michael was a Reading team-mate of Phil Parkinson.

At the back, the fluid situation at centre half was filled – in every sense of the word – by the experienced Jamie McCombe, who looked like a bulkier Luke Oliver.

Not that City had much defending to do, midfielder Lewis Nightingale offering the only credible home threat.

Three down at the break flattered Farsley. New boy Josh Morris, whose engine-room partnership with youngster Sam Wright crackled with energy and enthusiasm, rattled the bar after a mazy run.

He was also blatantly cut down in the box by Aaron Hardy but referee Andy Madley stood alone in seeing nothing amiss. Even in pre-season, it seems that City don't get penalties.

Predictably it was all change at the break with the whole new 11 including another couple of trialists, defender Greg Leigh and goalkeeper Joe Cracknell.

The arrival of another left back in Leigh, who played regularly for Crewe last term on loan from Manchester City, will no doubt cast fresh doubt on the future of Alan Sheehan.

Even more so when Leigh joined the travelling party heading for Scotland yesterday for this week's two-game tour.

Sheehan did play alongside him at centre half but, like the rest, found himself pushing up field more and more as the game continued in similar vein.

The tempo had dropped but there were still chances galore for the Bantams.

Fans got their first glimpse of Luke James alongside Billy Clarke up front. But most of City's shots seemed to come from right back Tony McMahon, who was permanently camped over the halfway line.

A goal eluded him, so much so that he buried his head in his shirt after one near-miss, but he was not alone. Chris Routis, playing centre midfield, twice went close, as did Clarke, and rookie pros Dylan Mottley-Henry and Joe Brennan were denied by equally narrow margins.

With four starters currently on the sidelines, the youngsters will get their opportunity to shine again in the matches north of the border. This is a big week for them.

But the afternoon's main talking point was perched in the stand. The protective bandage on Hanson's left ankle was just precautionary from a late twinge; he looks in no mood to be held back.

City first half: Williams, Hendrie, Liddle, McCombe, Meredith, Morais, Wright, Morris, Gilkes, Watt, Hanson.

City second half: Cracknell, McMahon, Omolukun, Sheehan, Leigh, Mottley-Henry, Routis, Devine, Brennan, Clarke, James.