City’s apprentices booked their place in the second round of the FA Youth Cup tonight thanks to a 2-0 win at Scunthorpe United.

The victory was all the more impressive for the Bantam youngsters given their defensive problems in the build-up and during the tie.

Niall Heaton had to pull out barely hours before kick-off because of a sickness bug and centre half James King went off at half-time, with attacker Nathan Curtis playing a makeshift role at the back in the second half.

Nevertheless, City, who have won all seven of their league games so far this season, started the tie in confident fashion and took the lead after 19 minutes through a delightful free-kick curled into the top corner by Callum Chippendale.

The young attacker had already hit the bar, as had Curtis with a looping header.

Scunthorpe hit back and forced City keeper Jack Bentley into a number of saves before the visitors, despite a half-time reshuffle due to King’s withdrawal, increased their lead ten minutes into the second period.

Calum Hepworth’s hanging delivery into the box from a deep free-kick was headed on into the path of Joe Brennan, who showed composure to control and slot home.

Fifteen minutes from the end, it seemed like Hakeeb Adelakun had a clear run on goal when he was played in behind the Bantams’ backline. Rookie defender Curtis had other ideas, however, as he produced a superbly-timed sliding tackle to rob the Scunthorpe winger of the ball just outside the six yard box.

Adelakun had another sight of goal when he burst into the box with menace less than three minutes from the end but his low drive was turned around the post by the legs of Bentley.

In injury time, Chippendale continued to show his impressive skills from dead-ball situations when he fired another free-kick from distance against the bar.

City didn’t need the cushion of a third goal, however, as Steve Thornber’s side saw out the remaining minutes with relative ease to book their safe passage into the next round.

City youth: Bentley, Hepworth, Jenkinson, Wright, King (Webb-Foster 45), Pollard, Mottley-Henry (Cissa 75), Chippendale, McBurnie, Brennan, Curtis.