Bradford City Reserves 1, Everton Reserves 2: There must be better places to spend your 31st birthday than Odsal on a wet and windy night.

But that was how David Wetherall "celebrated" his day, slogging through dreadful conditions to continue his injury comeback for the reserves.

And the good news for City is that the centre-half came through 90 minutes without a problem.

He could well have done enough to earn a place in the squad for Rotherham tomorrow - his first senior action since October 27.

Mark Prudhoe's second string included four trialists and there was also the strange scenario of Tom Kearney, who impressed at Odsal against Liverpool last week, playing for Everton - the team who have released him.

Wetherall and Co were up against it first half as Everton took advantage of the strong wind at their backs.

They forced three corners and from the third grabbed the lead just before half-time when Keith Southern scored from close range.

Keeper Andrew Grainger, on trial from Darlington, picked up an injury and was replaced for the second half by Jon Worsnop.

But another wannabe proved more successful as Charlton's Jumal Campbell-Ryce levelled for City in the 63rd minute. He finished off a low pass by Gareth Grant.

Everton, though, restored their lead with 15 minutes remaining as Southern bagged his second of the night.

City went looking for the equaliser and late on both Craig Bentham and Andrew Lee forced two good saves from Paul Gerrard in the Everton goal.

City's other trialists were Aston Villa's Sean Dillon, another who played against Liverpool the week before, and Leicester defender Matthew Smith.

CITY RES: Grainger (Worsnop), Smith, Wetherall, Dillon, Emanuel, Campbell-Ryce, Bentham, Penford (Forrest), Lee, Grant, Tod. Subs (not used): Brodie, Morgan, Sanasy.

EVERTON RES: Gerrard, Cleland, Valentine, Pilkington, O'Hanlon, Kearney, Tal (Curran), Southern, Osman, Eaton, McLeod. Subs (not used): Pettinger, Moogan, Crowder