Bradford City Res 0, Liverpool Res 2; by Richard Sutcliffe at Valley Parade.

LIVERPOOL confirmed their superiority at the top of the FA Premier Reserve League but were made to fight all the way by a dogged Bradford City side last night.

Goals from Titi Camara and Frode Kippe were enough to condemn City to their first home defeat since Manchester United triumphed 3-1 in November.

The result leaves the Reds, who had already been crowned champions, 12 points clear of second-placed City at the top of the table.

However City's largely inexperienced side deserve credit for the way they kept battling against some of Gerard Houllier's foreign legion.

The Bantams midfield quartet of Craig Fishlock, Adam Hardy, Scott Kerr and Lewis Emanuel are all members of the youth side but they all impressed against the Reds.

Kerr and Hardy, in particular, showed some great touches and came close to opening up a much more experienced Reds' side.

Most eyes were on England duo Robbie Fowler and Jamie Redknapp who were returning from injury after a frustrating season.

However it was Reds striker Titi Camara who opened the scoring with a superb shot which beat Aidan Davison from 25 yards after just seven minutes.

It was just the start City didn't need but they battled back bravely with Hardy's tough-tackling style down the right causing the Reds a few anxious moments.

Isaiah Rankin enjoyed City's first chance when he brought a fantastic save out of Jorgen Nielsen after just 29 seconds.

Kerr also had a good effort on the stroke of half-time which hit the side-netting after good work by Fishlock and Hardy.

Unfortunately for City, their brave resistance was broken again just ten minutes after half-time when Kippe's firm header from a corner gave Davison no chance.

City's best chance came in the 63rd minute when a superb turn by Emanuel allowed the 16-year-old to play a short pass to Todd, who flicked the ball up before volleying a fierce shot which Nielsen did well to turn away.

City: Davison, Wright, Emanuel (Lee 77), Kerr, Westwood, Dreyer, Hardy, Fishlock (Whiteley 77), Rankin, Patterson (Jones 64), Todd. Subs (not used) Bankole, Dufton.

Liverpool: Nielsen, Heggem, Traore, Song, Kippe, Navarro, Smicer (Miles 70), Camara, Fowler (Newby 58), Meijer, Redknapp (Maxwell 83). Subs (not used) Crookes, Patridge.

Attendance: 3,856.

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