City Youth 0, Millwall Youth 3

City’s under-18s saw their season’s proud unbeaten run ended by Millwall in the third round of the FA Youth Cup.

The loss was the first of the season for City’s apprentices after they had gone 16 league and cup games undefeated from the start of this campaign.

Despite enjoying the better of the play in the first period, Alfie Pavey’s opener on the stroke of half-time undeservedly sent the Bantams in at the break behind.

Further goals from wingers John-Prince Rylah and Fred Onyedinma after the interval during a more even second period sealed the tie in favour of the Lions.

City made most of the running in the early exchanges and created the vast majority of chances during an impressive opening half hour.

A number of the openings came via the boot of Callum Chippendale, who had passed a late fitness tests on a shoulder injury to partner Oliver McBurnie in attack.

City skipper Jack Stockdill did receive a booking, however, for a late challenge on Ritchie Danquae seven minutes before half-time.

But after leading from the front during most of the opening period, City harshly found themselves behind in the final minute of the half.

Defender James King’s attempted back-pass to Jack Bentley was unfortunately underhit, allowing Pavey to run on to the ball and slot past the goalkeeper on the stroke of half-time.

Pavey then turned provider in the second period when he played in Rylah for a sight of goal and the winger finished high into the net from around ten yards out in the 69th minute.

City youth team boss Steve Thornber made changes shortly after Millwall’s second goal, with attackers Reece Webb-Foster and Joe Brennan being brought on.

Millwall were reduced to ten men with just over eight minutes to go when skipper Sid Nelson was given his second booking for a foul on Nathan Curtis.

The red card came during a slightly heated period in the game, with sections of the sizeable home support clearly not happy with some of the tackling on show from the visitors.

City’s third and final change came with four minutes to go when Sam Wright was replaced by Danny Devine.

The Bantams pushed hard for a way back into the contest right into injury time but, with a number of bodies forward on one particular attack, they were caught on the break.

Onyedinma led the breakaway as he strode forward before slotting past Bentley to put an unfair gloss on the scoreline.

City Youth: Bentley, Hepworth (Brennan 73), King, Pollard, Heaton, Mottley-Henry (Webb-Foster 73), Wright (Devine 86), Stockdill, Curtis, Chippendale, McBurnie. Subs (not used): Barker, Jenkinson.