ECCLESHILL 1 CITY 2

LIVERPOOL seemed a world away as City took another low-key step along their pre-season path at Eccleshill.

The surroundings were unrecognisable from a jam-packed Valley Parade 48 hours earlier – and so was the team in claret and amber.

The latest line-up of trialists at the Mitton Group Stadium didn’t even bear any resemblance to last week’s mystery collection against Brighouse.

Of the 10 additions to City’s pre-season roster, only Luke Wall had appeared previously.

Experienced former Macclesfield and Notts County defender Shaun Brisley apart, it was another exotic group.

There was no Nortei Nortey, to the disappointment of the City fans, but a frontline featuring Miracle Okafor offered some consolation for the distinctive name droppers.

Eccleshill was the stage where Jordan Gibson had made his mark to win a deal with Stuart McCall two years ago. Whether any of this City line-up will emulate Gibson, watching on the sidelines with Connor Wood, Omari Patrick and Tyler French, and earn an extended opportunity is highly unlikely.

City had pulled the plug on last year’s visit at two days’ notice, a decision that left a sour taste, and with all the turmoil at the club never got around to rearranging the game as promised.

So, this fixture was always etched in the pre-season schedule, even if it meant a random turn-out in Bantam shirts.

The home side were predictably more fluid – they knew each other for starters – and carved the bulk of the chances in a quiet first half.

Jonny Irving fired over and then keeper Gabriel Rosario, son of former Norwich striker Robert, spread himself to thwart Jacob Buchanan when Nathan Woodward played him behind the City defence.

Jordan Cox, formerly of Aston Villa’s under-23s, had City’s opening effort midway through the half but it was straight at Joe Wilton.

Eccleshill looked the more likely threat and Rosario was forced into a double save just before the break, pushing out Lewis Sugden’s free-kick and then blocking Irving’s follow-up from close range – although the American probably didn’t know much about that.

Irving pinged a volley over to start the second half before City took the lead. Jaden Owusu-Nepaul won the ball on halfway and played in Kelsey Mooney, son of well-travelled striker Tommy.

Mooney junior, who had a nine-game loan spell last season at Cheltenham from Aston Villa, finished confidently into the bottom corner.

Ex-Frickley frontman Okafor showed some lively touches on City’s right as the visitors tried to build some momentum.

But Eccleshill levelled in decent fashion with Sugden cleverly working space for a 20-yard drive beyond Rosario.

Owusu-Nepaul had the chance to restore City’s advantage but his dink over the advancing Wilton lacked conviction and bounced wide.

As the game continued to open up, Eccleshill sub Ibby Najeh was not far off with a curler past the far post from the corner of the box and Ryan Hargreaves, a City fan, rustled the side-netting for Lee Elam’s men.

It was City, though, who came up with the decisive blow 10 minutes from time as Okafor headed home from Wall’s corner.

CITY: Rosario, Ezewele, Morrison, Cousin-Dawson (Staunton 46), Brisley, Solvet (Goldthorp 46), Wall, Cox, Okafor, Mooney, Owusu-Nepaul (Morris 84).

ECCLESHILL: Wilton, Stor, Marsh, Sugden, Omolukon, Basi, Ndlovu, Woodward, Lever, Irving, Buchanan. Subs: Hargreaves, Bentley, Charlton, Moise, Najeh, Mohamed, Buttle, Smith.