Some will argue that pre-season results do not matter. Don't you believe it.

What a timely pick-me-up this was for City and their travelling army in North Yorkshire last night.

It was ironic that the cash-stricken club should play the first friendly in the most affluent corner of the county.

But the fans answered the call to arms by turning up in force with City accounting for at least two-thirds of the 1,000-strong turn-out at Wetherby Road.

That support included two famous faces from the recent past, Stuart McCall and Peter Beagrie. Local residents admittedly but still Bantams at heart.

Colin Todd will not read too much into a five-goal rout of a side from the Conference North. But a start like that will do no harm for the confidence of a dressing room happy to be able to concentrate on matters on the pitch rather than off it.

Five trialists were on show but it was a familiar figure who set the ball rolling after five minutes.

Dean Windass says he has unfinished business this year and he certainly looked hungry for goals on his first run-out.

The 35-year-old was shoved in the back by former Blackburn Premiership winner Mark Atkins to give City a penalty which the striker confidently fired into the corner.

Atkins tried to atone with a shot which young keeper Kieran Westwood needed two attempts to hold before Windass was inches away from a second, thudding against the home bar.

Windass was partnered up front with former Everton youngster Michael Symes who looked strong and energetic - and doubled City's advantage on 18 minutes with an absolute belter.

Wayne Jacobs sent a high looping ball into the box where Symes and the lively Ben Muirhead were lurking. Symes met it with a sweet volley which flew in, although the announcer tried to steal his thunder by awarding it to the winger.

Arguably City's hardest challenge was coping with the pitch which sloped away by a foot and a half from the goal to one corner. Jason Gavin got caught in that dip by a challenge on the back of the heel after being sold short at a throw-in.

After a stoppage, the Irishman was worryingly taken off on a stretcher. Fortunately it proved nothing too serious and he was able to limp away after the game.

City went 3-0 up five minutes before half-time. Simon Sturdy's back-header was awful and Steve Schumacher, another Goodison prodigy, nicked the ball wide of keeper Paul Pettinger before driving in from an acute angle.

Todd made nine changes at the break, including Tom Kearney whose expected move to Chester has so far failed to materialise. The one-sided pattern remained the same with Tom Penford driving forward at every opportunity.

With 20 minutes left, he made it four taking a flick from triallist striker Patrick Jones in his stride to pass the keeper.

Nicky Summerbee added a fifth goal in the 83rd minute.

First half: Westwood, Bentham, Gavin (Swift 23), Bower, Jacobs, Muirhead, Crooks, Schumacher, Emanuel, Windass, Symes.

Second half: Westwood, Atherton, Wetherall, Swift, Jacobs (Richardson 66), Summerbee, Penford, Kearney, Flynn, Sanasy (Symes 81), Jones.