TWO goals from loose Bradford City U18s play meant the side missed the opportunity to return top of the league.

In an EFL Youth Alliance North East Division top of the table clash, the Bantams youth took on a Grimsby U18s side who sat one point below them in third before kick-off.

Three points for City would have seem them leapfrog leaders Mansfield, if results went their way, but the youngsters succumbed to a 2-0 loss away at the Mariners.

The Bantams will feel disappointed having controlled much of the game, but they won't have been happy with the manner of the first goal.

A loose City pass under no pressure on the halfway line was intercepted by the Grimsby right-back who stormed forward through the centre, gliding past two City players before narrowly avoiding a sliding challenge from a third player.

The full-back then shifted the ball out to the right wing, where Brandon Buckley collected well, before taking on the defender to cross a low ball into box.

Rumarn Burrell latched onto the pass right next to the keeper and sent it goalwards, but disaster struck for the Bantams when Alfie Darke's initial save rebounded off Jorge Sikora for an own goal.

A setback, but City didn't let it get to them and continued to dominate for the rest of the half.

Their pressure almost paid dividends after half an hour when the Bantams had the ball in the back of the net, but it was ruled to be offside despite a Grimsby player appearing to be stood on the goal-line.

The second half was one with little to talk about, until more loose play from City led to the curtains falling on them gaining anything from the game.

In the final moments, the Mariners piled the pressure onto a City defence retreating with the ball, and an attempted clearance from the Bantams' last man landed at the chest of a Grimsby midfielder.

A quick flick to the right gave Luis Aolard the chance to run on goal, but he still had work to do and at one point it looked as if the City centre back had beat him to the ball on the edge of the box.

But, Aolard shimmied around the defender and made his way into the City box before neatly squaring the ball to Lennon Stead who was stood unmarked on the edge of the 18 yard box.

Stead had time to line-up a right footed shot, which finished up in the bottom left-hand corner of the Bradford goal.

Keeper, Darke, made movements to get to the shot, but it moved too fast for him to do anything about it.

The result means Grimsby have now leapfrogged both Bradford and Mansfield U18s to go top.

A 2-1 win for Hartlepool U18s away at Huddersfield U18s sees the Pools level on points with Grimsby, but sitting second by virtue of a worse goal difference.

This brave, young City side will feel slightly aggrieved at the result which leaves them in fourth, but the Bantams' fate still remains in their control as they're only two points off top with a game in hand.

Coach, Mark Trueman, will hope his side can make amends when entertaining Burton Albion on Saturday afternoon.

CITY: Alfie Darke; Hayden Smethurst (Wade Ripley 85’), Jorge Sikora (Finn Cousin-Dawson 45+2’), Reece Staunton, Jeremie Milambo; Jake Maltby, Kian Scales (Dan Francis 61’); Christian Farrar, Matt Birchall, Connor Shanks (Eddy Prata 55’); Kielen Adams.

GRIMSBY: Ollie Battersby; Tom Jamieson, Mattie Pollock, Emil Powles, Ollie Saunders; Jock Curran; Brandon McPherson (Joe Starbuck 55’), Kyle Richardson, Conley Poynter; Brandon Buckley (Luis Aolard 76’); Rumarn Burrell (Lennon Stead 76’). SUBS (not used): Owen Davoy, Josh Smalley.


GOALS: Sikora (OG, 14’), Stead (88’).



MAN OF THE MATCH: Jeremie Milambo.