A youthful City side was beaten on penalties as Bradford (Park Avenue) regained the Tom Banks Memorial Trophy at the Horsfall Community Stadium.
After a behind-closed-doors fixture at Bolton Wanderers the day before, City made the short trip across Bradford, with a team largely consisting of under-19s being taken to penalties after leading at half-time.
The young Bantams started the stronger of the two teams. Gabe Wadsworth curled a shot just over the bar inside the first five minutes, after a cutback found him on the edge of the area.
Moments later, one of the few senior professionals involved, Jake Young, went on a mazy run down the left-hand side. He beat several Avenue players, but was thwarted inside the area.
The hosts fought back with chances of their own, calling Heath Richardson into action in the City net, but it was Ryan Farrell's side who took the lead before the break.
Isaac Robinson's tricky surge into the area saw him angle an effort off both posts which bounced out, though Dylan Youmbi was on hand to tap home the rebound.
Park Avenue fought back after the break and managed to level the game just before the hour mark.
A defensive mix-up saw the ball find its way to the feet of Will Longbottom, who beat Richardson to the ball and tapped it into an empty net.
After a handful of half chances for both teams, and an array of substitutions, the game finished level and was taken to penalties.
A huge Park Avenue miss and a Richardson save saw City ahead 2-1 after three penalties apiece. However, a few inspired saves from George Sykes-Kenworthy meant Richardson stepped up for the Bantams' final spot kick needing to score to keep the shoot-out alive.
Sykes-Kenworthy managed to get a hand to Richardson’s effort and it smashed off the underside of the bar and bounced out, meaning City relinquished their grip on the Tom Banks memorial Trophy.
CITY (STARTING): Heath Richardson; Harvey Rowe, Sam Bentley, Leon Brooks, Finlay Gledhill, Isaac Robinson, Harry Ibbitson, Jake Young, Gabriel Wadsworth, Dylan Youmbi, Noah Wadsworth.
GOAL: Youmbi (44’).
BPA (STARTING): George Sykes-Kenworthy; Lucas Odunston, Trialist K, Jak Whiting, Luca Havern, Trialist B, Harrison Hooper, Trialist E, Brad Dockerty, Trialist A, Will Longbottom.
GOAL: Longbottom (58’).
ATTENDANCE: 2,354.