Bradford City Under-18s recorded an impressive 3-1 victory at home to league-leading Doncaster over the weekend.
Jorge Sikora and Kielen Adams converted from set-pieces, before a well-worked counter allowed Matt Birchall to seal the young Bantams’ success late on.
Doncaster had made a strong start to the season and arrived at City’s Rawdon Meadows home as unbeaten visitors.
And they made their presence known during the opening minutes as Myron Gibbon’s ball into the area was converted by Martijn Smith.
Hayden Smethurst put in a strong shift down City’s right flank, setting up Kielen Adams for a chance in the area. His low cross was fired on goal by the striker, forcing a good save from Declan Ogley.
Rovers’ Rieves Boocock had two quick-fire shots on Alfie Darke’s goal. The first was blocked, bouncing back to the attacker, forcing the City stopper into a save.
Bantams head coach Mark Trueman experimented with a new formation but changed back to a recognisable 4-2-3-1 in the second half as Bradford chased the game.
It was a fast-paced start to the second half.
Birchall was adamant he should have had a penalty after it appeared he was brought down in the area but the referee waved play on.
However, the corner that was awarded turned out to be the opportunity City needed. Eliot Goldthorp’s ball in was headed home by Jorge Sikora to level matters.
And it was all City from then onwards, with Goldthorp proving the architect on another set-piece for the Bantams’ lead.
Adams battled well for a free-kick on the right, which Goldthorp took charge of. His cross to the front post connected with Adams - who nodded the ball home for 2-1.
Substitute Connor Shanks made sure of City’s success on 83 minutes. Birchall broke through, carving open a three-on-two counter for the Bantams. His pass into Shanks opened a shooting chance. Shanks’ decision to pass across goal - to Birchall - gave the midfielder an open goal to completed an impressive comeback.
BANTAMS: Alfie Darke, Hayden Smethurst, Jorge Sikora, Reece Staunton, Dan Francis, Jake Maltby, Raeece Ellington, Eliot Goldthorp, Matt Birchall, Eddy Prata (Connor Shanks 78’), Kielen Adams (Wade Ripley 75’). Subs: Finn Cousin-Dawson, Oliver Kirkpatrick, Kian Scales
GOALS: George Sikora 47’, Kielen Adams 62’, Matt Birchal 83’.
MAN OF THE MATCH: Dan Francis