City’s under-18s side missed out on the opportunity to return to the top of the EFL Youth Alliance North East Division - after being held to a 2-2 draw at Lincoln.
A penalty in the final five minutes rescued a share of the spoils for a Lincoln outfit enjoying a four-match winning streak, after City had twice held the lead.
The young Bantams enjoyed the better of a frantic opening period and drew first blood five minutes in.
A calculated free kick from Reece Staunton came back off the crossbar but the impressive Kielen Adams was on hand to bundle home the rebound.
Despite City looking stronger in the opening exchanges, the lead didn’t last long and it was all square again just five minutes later.
Following a slight scramble in the area after Ryan Flitton’s long throw, the ball fell for Lincoln’s Jon Smith who tucked it past Alfie Darke and into the City net.
But City rallied and would retake the lead on 33 minutes to go in at the break 2-1 up.
After latching on to a long ball and racing to the byline, skipper Jeremie Milambo cut back for Connor Morris who fired into the roof of the net for his second goal in three competitive fixtures since joining on trial.
The second half was a different story and, despite Staunton going close with another neat free kick, the Bantams were put under the cosh by their hosts.
After coping well with the pressure for the majority of the half, City finally folded with five minutes left.
Adams was supposedly just inside the area when adjudged to have handled and, after the referee pointed to the spot, Smith send Darke the wrong way to steal a point for the Imps.
Mark Trueman’s side remain in second and return to league action at home to Hartlepool on Saturday, after travelling to Thackley for a friendly against their seniors on Tuesday night.
CITY: Alfie Darke; Hayden Smethurst, Finn Cousin-Dawson (Jorge Sikora 75’), Reece Staunton, Jeremie Milambo (c); Raeece Ellington (Kian Scales 87’), Jake Maltby; Kielen Adams (booked 63’), Matt Birchall (Wade Ripley 75’), Connor Shanks; Connor Morris. Subs (not used): Dan Francis.
GOALS: Adams (5’), Morris (33’).
LINCOLN: Matty White; Josh Woodcock (c), Gianluca Bucci, Duncan Idehen, Ryan Flitton (booked 89’); Jon Smith, Josh Burns (Niall Parsons 83’), Tobias Liversidge; Haydn Tear (Tyler Finlay 75’), Alex Wunham, Elliott Sartorius (Max Gee 56’). Subs (not used): Ross Woolley.
GOALS: Smith (10’, 85’ [pen]).
MAN OF THE MATCH: Kielen Adams.