City’s under-18s fell to a 1-0 defeat at Carlisle United to bow out of the 2020/21 EFL Youth Alliance Cup.
Dylan Garvey’s first-half goal was enough to see off the young Bantams at Creighton Rugby Club, ahead of the two sides' meeting at Brunton Park in round two of this season's FA Youth Cup - this Thursday (6.00pm).
The Cumbrians enjoyed the clearer opportunities in the opening stages of the game and force several fine saves out of City goalkeeper Darryl Ombang.
The Bantams’ best opportunity of the first half fell to striker Dylan Youmbi who - after finding a way through the Cumbrians defence - was denied one on one by Gabriel Breeze.
Half an hour into the game the hosts were awarded a penalty, after a tangle of legs inside the City 18-yard box.
Charlie Watt stepped up to take the spot-kick but was denied by Ombang who got down low to make an impressive save and keep the game goalless.
However, Eric Kinder’s men did break the deadlock in the 43rd minute when Garvey forced his way into the penalty area and slotted the ball beyond Ombang into the corner of the net.
The second half proved a largely uneventful affair with neither team creating any chances of note.
The Cumbrians held onto their lead taken into the half-time break to come away with a narrow victory.
CITY: Darryl Ombang; Casey Breaks, Sam Bentley (Tanaka Maumbe 46’), Harvey Ormerod, Leke Ajibode; Bobby Pointon, Charlie Wood © (Olivier Sukiennicki 46’), George Thewlis, Cole Roberts (Raj Palit 65’); Connor Morris (Yahaya Tunkara 52’), Dylan Youmbi.
GOALS: None.
CARLISLE: Gabriel Breeze; Rohan Steele, Josh Barnett, Keenan Leslie ©, Elliot Day; Jack Ellis, DJ Taylor (Dan Hill 65’), Dylan Garvey, Sam Fishburn; Lewis Bell, Charlie Watt. Subs (not used): Adam Walton, Max Kilsby, Isaac Robinson, Scott Simons.
GOALS: Dylan Garvey (43’).