CITY 2 BURY 1

STUART McCall beat the system by subbing goalkeeper Colin Doyle after just three minutes last night.

Doyle was one of City’s quota of five of their top 11 appearance-makers to make sure they avoided a Checkatrade Trophy fine.

But once the game was underway, he was quickly withdrawn and replaced by Rouven Sattelmaier.

The cheeky move mirrored Gary Megson’s Sheffield Wednesday at Valley Parade five years ago when he took off keeper Nicky Weaver even earlier.

City’s 2-1 victory gave them maximum points in Group C but they are not in the second round yet. Morecambe’s win over Stoke under-23s means there is still something on the line when they travel to the Globe Arena on November 8.

A crowd of 1,865 was 421 more than watched Stoke in August – Valley Parade’s smallest attendance for 35 years – but still highlighted the apathy surrounding this much-derided competition.

It wasn’t just the public who did not seem that bothered. The fact that Sattelmaier was one of only three subs named by City showed what it meant in McCall’s overall thinking.

But whatever the general lack of interest, there was still some significance for defensive trio Rory McArdle, Nathan Clarke and Matt Kilgallon.

Like Stephen Darby in the opening game against Stoke under-23s, it was an opportunity for them to get some much-needed action under the belts.

McArdle had been on target the last time there was any goals between these two teams at Valley Parade a year ago. A trilogy of meetings since then in the league and FA Cup had produced five hours of stalemate.

Those blanks had accounted for three of the astonishing 27 clean sheets Ben Williams kept last term and he was back in Bury colours along with left back Greg Leigh, who had grown frustrated at failing to dislodge James Meredith in his year with City.

But any hopes Williams had of another Valley Parade shut-out were blown away by two City goals in a four-minute blast just after the half-hour.

The Bantams had already seen a strong penalty shout rejected after Niall Maher appeared to take Jordy Hiwula’s legs away as he prepared to latch on to Haris Vuckic’s pass.

But there was no escape for Bury when the Hiwula and Vuckic partnership next came knocking.

Hiwula angled a pass to the left of the box where the Slovenian, playing just off the striker, drilled a clinical finish across Williams.

Four minutes later, it was Vuckic’s turn to repay the compliment with a deft little pass through the defence for Hiwula to steer under the keeper.

It was no more than the Bantams deserved for controlling the first half with Danny Devine prompting them from midfield.

Having not kicked a ball in the first team for a month, the youngster was clearly eager to make up for lost time and reinforcing his reputation as such an exciting prospect.

Hiwula, too, was playing with confidence and nearly had a second soon after the resumption, shooting into the side-netting after a neat interchange with Filipe Morais.

Darby and Timothee Dieng finished their night on the hour point to give trainees Kwame Boateng and Tom Windle a chance.

But any thoughts that City would cruise through the rest were shattered within three minutes as Bury cut the deficit, Tom Walker giving Sattelmaier no chance from a decent solo effort.

Morais quickly tried to restore the two-goal cushion but Kelvin Etuhu deflected his shot wide. Leigh replied by whipping a dangerous ball across the City goal-mouth as the contest came to life.

Bury sensed a way back and Hallam Hope lashed wide as City fumed over a hand ball from Andrew Tutte in the build-up.

McArdle nearly got a decisive touch on an in-swinging free-kick from Morais before Bury went straight to the other end, Hope firing across goal from Williams’ long clearance.

Sub Scott Burgess had one last chance but his effort flew over the bar off Morais and City had secured top spot in Group C.

CITY: Doyle n/a (Sattelmaier 3min, 6), Darby 6 (Windle 60min, 6), McArdle 6, N Clarke 7, Kilgallon 7, Morais 7, Dieng 7 (Boateng 60min, 6), Devine 8, Rabiega 6, Vuckic 7, Hiwula 7.

BURY: Williams 6, Etuhu 6, Bryan 6, Maher 6, Leigh 7, Tutte 6 (Burgess 74min), Mellis 6, Soares 6, Walker 7, Hope 7 (Harker 89min), Dudley 5 (Pope 61min). Subs not used: Bedeau, Rachubka.